---
title: "Supreme Court Rebukes Bar Council Over NALSAR Student Enrolment Freeze"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/supreme-court-condemns-bar-council-nalsar-enrolment-freeze-lspfx
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Politics
published: 2026-08-14T06:30:27.565Z
modified: 2026-08-14T09:30:05.507Z
language: en-IN
---

# Supreme Court Rebukes Bar Council Over NALSAR Student Enrolment Freeze

The Supreme Court has strongly condemned the Bar Council of India's (BCI) circular that halted the enrolment of NALSAR University graduates as advocates. The court stated students have a right to protest and questioned the BCI's authority over students' futures.

## Key takeaways

- The Supreme Court criticized the Bar Council of India for its circular that stopped NALSAR University graduates from enrolling as advocates.
- Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated the BCI has no authority to interfere with students' futures and acknowledged their right to protest.
- The BCI's directive was issued in response to student protests against the CJI's planned participation at the university's convocation.
- The court ordered that no coercive actions be taken against NALSAR students and administrators related to the incident.
- The Supreme Court is seeking an affidavit from the BCI to explain the issuance of the now-withdrawn circular.

The Supreme Court on Friday, August 14, 2026, criticized the Bar Council of India (BCI) for its circular that prevented the enrolment of 2026 batch graduates from NALSAR University of Law as advocates. This directive from the BCI has since been withdrawn.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated that the BCI should not interfere with students' futures and highlighted that students possess a right to protest. The court sought an explanation from the BCI in the form of an affidavit regarding the issuance of these circulars.

NALSAR students had protested the proposed participation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant at their convocation ceremony, reportedly due to his prior comments referring to youths as "cockroaches." The BCI’s initial communication had instructed state bar councils to halt the graduates' enrolment pending an inquiry into the student campaign against the CJI's participation.

The Supreme Court ordered that no punitive actions would be taken against NALSAR students and administrators concerning the events mentioned in the BCI circulars issued on August 13. Senior advocate K. Parameshwar argued that the BCI lacks disciplinary jurisdiction over university students and matters within a university's internal affairs, calling the BCI's actions a threat to students' livelihoods.

The court also directed the BCI to clarify whether the circulars were issued following a full body resolution or as an initiative of the BCI chairperson, senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra. The court issued notice on the petition against the BCI, scheduling further hearings.

---
Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/supreme-court-condemns-bar-council-nalsar-enrolment-freeze-lspfx
Reported from: Multiple Sources