Published Aug 15, 2026 | 3:02 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 15, 2026 | 3:02 PM
NLSIU students stood in camaraderie with all the citizens of our country who continue to brave state repression and violence. (Wikimedia commons)
Synopsis: Expressing unconditional solidarity with the students of NALSAR, NLSIU students wrote, “At the time of opening this letter for signatures, we are aware that the BCI has closed all proceedings against NALSAR. However, the fact that such unconstitutional and illegal ‘proceedings’ can be initiated by a statutory body against students and faculty members of a public university in the first place does not alter the nature or the larger impact of such actions or dilute the responsibility of the Chairman and the BCI.”
The students of the graduating batch of 2026 of the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru (NLSIU), have, in an open letter, demanded an unconditional apology from the Bar Council of India (BCI) to the student and faculty community at NALSAR for attempting to infringe their fundamental right to free speech and expression.
They have also expressed opposition against BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra attending the convocation of NLSIU without taking responsibility for his conduct.
Expressing unconditional solidarity with the students of NALSAR, wrote, “At the time of opening this letter for signatures, we are aware that the BCI has closed all proceedings against NALSAR. However, the fact that such unconstitutional and illegal ‘proceedings’ can be initiated by a statutory body against students and faculty members of a public university in the first place does not alter the nature or the larger impact of such actions or dilute the responsibility of the Chairman and the BCI.”
“At no point, even after the recall of the ban on enrolment and the inquiry order, has the BCI acknowledged the arbitrary and illegal nature of its actions. Hence, we issue this statement to set the record straight and prevent such events from happening in the future,” it read.
Related: What made BCI chief withdraw his controversial NALSAR circular?
Further criticising the move, the students said, “BCI’s actions are ultra vires (beyond the powers) The Advocates Act, 1961. While the Advocates Act permits the BCI to lay down standards for professional conduct and promote legal education, it does not allow the BCI to order State Bar Councils to arbitrarily suspend or ban the enrollment of a person otherwise qualified to be an advocate under law. Section 24A of the Act limits disqualification to specific cases of criminal convictions and does not contemplate disbarring enrollment on the basis of having “no regard or respect” for a judicial officer.”
“Further, the Chairman does not represent the entire Bar Council of India which, under Section 4 of the Act, is composed of the Attorney General, the Solicitor General, and one member each from every State Bar Council in India. As such, the Chairman has no legal powers to unilaterally issue orders of this nature. Finally, the BCI’s order to the VC, NALSAR to furnish a report on students and faculty members participating in the representation is wholly unconnected to the BCI’s limited statutory duty under Section 7.”
The students reiterated that the BCI’s actions are, in fact, a direct attack on the fundamental right to free speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
Seeking action from the administration, the letter read: “We, the students of NLSIU, have seen the words ‘Where the Mind is Without Fear’ before entering our classrooms every day. We believe that the immortal words of Tagore reflect the ethos of all law universities and that students, faculty, and the administration must act and be encouraged to act according to their conscience and constitutional values, without fear.”
“The BCI’s direction to NALSAR to investigate and ‘separately identify’ students and faculty members involved in making the representation is nothing less than a witch-hunt. By labeling the constitutionally guaranteed student expression of free speech as ‘dirty’ and ‘nasty politics’ and a ‘serious situation’ of ‘obstruction’ and ‘disruption,’ the BCI has sent an unabashed threat against students and faculty members, a modus operandi that we have seen play out over and over again across universities in the country,” the students said, critiquing the suppression of dissent
They further reiterated that BCI’s actions create a chilling effect on free speech not only for the students and faculty members at NALSAR but for students and citizens across the country by sending them a clear signal that any act of dissent will be met with severe personal and professional consequences.
“The language used in the second letter, claiming that ‘innocent’ students have been ‘misled’ and ‘instigated’ by ‘outsiders’ is patronising, dishonest, and an insidious attempt to isolate certain students and faculty members. To be absolutely clear, we write this letter of our own volition and not under the influence of any amorphous ‘outsiders’.”
Also Read: ‘No role in free speech on campuses’, NALSAR alumni condemns BCI vilifying students
The letter criticising BCI, noted, its “illegal and perverse action is part of a concerning pattern of using a statutory regulatory body to make partisan political comments at the whims and fancies of the Chairman. The issuance of the subsequent letter ‘with the approval of the Council,’ conspicuously absent in the first, suggests that the first letter was issued unilaterally by the Chairman.”
“Instead of focusing on the poor state of legal education and professional development in the country, the Chairman has abused his official position to issue official statements calling the protesting students at Jantar Mantar ‘anti-social and anti-national forces’ acting under the influence of ‘foreign adversaries’. The repeated misconduct of the BCI Chairman has eroded public trust and confidence in the legal profession. As young lawyers and citizens of this country,” they said, demanding a better BCI.
“A University Convocation is a monumental event in a student’s academic life meant to celebrate years of hard work and perseverance. In a country where access to higher education is severely restricted by barriers of class, caste, and gender and poorly designed and conducted entrance examinations, a Convocation marks an important achievement for families. In this context, inviting persons in high office to confer degrees to students towards whom they have publicly expressed their disdain and condescension is offensive, humiliating, and a mockery of students and their struggles.”
“We stand in unconditional solidarity with our fellow students at NALSAR who have shown exemplary courage and moral conviction in speaking truth to power.”
In camaraderie with all the citizens of our country who continue to brave state repression and violence in the exercise of their constitutionally guaranteed freedoms, the NLSIU students hereby:
Mishra, also a Rajya Sabha member representing the BJP, had on Thursday, 13 August, restricted all state bar councils from enrolling students of the 2026 batch as lawyers.
“Till further orders, no student of NALSAR University of Law, who has obtained the Law Degree in the year 2026, shall be enrolled by any State Bar Council as an Advocate,” the direction, signed by Mishra, said.
In a toned-down second letter, the BCI lifted the blanket ban. Following widespread backlash, including from the legal fraternity, Mishra later withdrew the orders.
The students had opposed Chief Justice Kant’s presence, citing his “cockroach” and “parasite” remarks, which later sparked a youth movement that humbled the NDA government at the Centre.
