# Supreme Court Protects NALSAR Graduates as CJI Surya Kant Questions BCI Over Enrollment Ban > The Supreme Court has barred any punitive action against NALSAR University of Law students following a controversial enrollment directive by the Bar Council of India. Chief Justice Surya Kant reprimanded the council, affirming that peaceful protest is a fundamental right of students. **Type:** article · **Category:** India · **Published:** 2026-08-14 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/national/nalsar-chhatron-ke-samarthana-men-aya-supreme-court-cji-surya-kant-ne-bci-ki-dakhalaandaji-para-jatai-kari-narajagi-16615 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Supreme Court, CJI Surya Kant, NALSAR Law University, Bar Council of India, Legal News, Student Protest In a significant legal intervention safeguarding academic freedom and professional careers of law graduates, the Supreme Court of India reprimanded the Bar Council of India over its administrative actions against students of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant directed that neither the Bar Council of India nor any state bar council shall take any punitive action against students or faculty members of NALSAR or any other law university. The apex court also explicitly encouraged graduating students to proceed with their advocate enrollment process without apprehension. ## Supreme Court Reaffirms Students Right to Peaceful Protest Expressing strong disapproval over the Bar Council of India intervention in student matters, CJI Surya Kant emphasized that academic spaces must accommodate peaceful expressions of dissent. The Chief Justice observed that if students have a legitimate grievance or wish to register a peaceful protest, the national regulatory body for legal practice has no locus standi to penalize enrollment or impose coercive measures. CJI Surya Kant noted that students had directly addressed a communication to him, making the issue a matter between the judiciary and the student community, rendering external interference by the council entirely unnecessary. Relating to his own formative years, Chief Justice Surya Kant reflected on his active participation in student initiatives during his university days. He remarked that young scholars expressing their views in a peaceful and constitutional manner ought to be supported rather than suppressed. The court maintained that constructive debate and peaceful demonstration form an essential element of legal training and democratic expression. ## Court Proceedings and BCI Decision Making Questioned During the court proceedings, counsel representing the Bar Council of India informed the bench that the contentious resolution restricting student enrollments had already been recalled. However, Senior Advocate K. Parameshwar, appearing in the matter, pointed out that merely rescinding the order does not neutralize the underlying premise of the action, leaving graduating students vulnerable to future administrative hurdles. Intervening during the hearing, Justice Joymalya Bagchi questioned the decision making protocol adopted by the regulator. Justice Bagchi asked the council representative whether any authority had called upon the Bar Council of India to pass such a sweeping resolution against an entire graduating class, seeking full transparency regarding the rationale behind the directive. ## Genesis of the Controversy at NALSAR Hyderabad The row originated on August 13 when the Bar Council of India circulated an official directive to all state bar councils across the country. The communication instructed state bodies to withhold advocate enrollment for any student graduating in the 2026 batch from NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, pending further orders. Furthermore, BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra instructed the Vice-Chancellor of NALSAR to submit a verified report within three days to identify individuals responsible for initiating, organizing, and coordinating the campaign. The council's punitive measure was triggered by reports indicating that a group of graduating students had raised objections to an institutional proposal inviting Chief Justice Surya Kant as the chief guest for the university's upcoming convocation ceremony. In response to this student pushback, the regulatory body had issued its nationwide directive banning enrollments. ## Encouragement and Legal Aid Opportunities for Law Graduates Reassuring the student body regarding their professional prospects, CJI Surya Kant alleviated concerns regarding career setbacks or administrative blacklisting. He actively advised the graduating cohort to complete their enrollment formalities and integrate into the broader legal community. The Chief Justice urged students to complete their registration and join the Supreme Court Bar, assuring them that the apex court would facilitate their empanelment in legal aid programs and training courses to help them establish their practice effectively. ## What this means for you This ruling brings significant clarity and relief for law students and academic institutions: - **Across India:** Law students across the country retain their right to peaceful protest without the fear of arbitrary enrollment bans or administrative retaliation by bar councils. - **In Hyderabad & NALSAR:** Graduating students of the 2026 batch at NALSAR Hyderabad can now pursue their advocate enrollments smoothly and join professional bar associations without disruption. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. What directive did the Supreme Court issue to the Bar Council of India regarding NALSAR? The Supreme Court ordered that neither the Bar Council of India nor any state bar council shall take any punitive action against students or faculty members of NALSAR or any other law university. ### 2. What triggered the controversy between BCI and NALSAR students? The controversy erupted after some graduating students objected to inviting CJI Surya Kant as convocation chief guest, prompting BCI to issue a circular withholding advocate enrollments for the 2026 batch. ### 3. What were CJI Surya Kant's remarks regarding student protests? CJI Surya Kant stated that students have the right to express peaceful protest, reflecting on his own university days and calling BCI's intervention completely unnecessary. ### 4. Has the Bar Council of India withdrawn its enrollment ban circular? Yes, BCI counsel informed the apex court that the contentious order had been withdrawn, though the court still issued explicit directions preventing future retaliation. ### 5. What encouragement did the Supreme Court offer to graduating law students? The CJI encouraged graduates to complete their advocate enrollments, join the Supreme Court Bar, and participate in legal aid courses empanelled by the apex court. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._