‘Absolutely uncalled for’: CJI slams Bar Council’s bid to take action against NALSAR students

Chief Justice Surya Kant on Friday criticised the Bar Council of India for directing state bar councils not to enrol students from the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research graduating in 2026 as advocates, calling the now-revoked action “absolutely uncalled for”, Bar and Bench reported.

Kant said: “It’s a dialogue between students and me. Who are they to raise an issue?”

On Thursday, the council had directed state councils to defer the enrolment of the graduating batch of NALSAR students as advocates, objecting to the campaign of some students against the institute inviting Kant to their convocation.

It withdrew the decision a few hours later, but said it had sought an inquiry report from the university identifying those who were “principally instrumental” in opposing Kant’s participation in the convocation.

Later in the night, the council closed all proceedings against the students, saying it was satisfied that the 2026 batch had no role in any “disturbance or movement”.

The matter was mentioned on Friday before a bench comprising Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana after Advocate K Parameshwar challenged the council’s action.

Kant said that he had been actively involved in student activities in his student days, adding that “even if they are wrong, they have a right to protest”.

The court recorded that the circular had been withdrawn and...

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