NALSAR to Review BCI Demand for Inquiry Into Students Over CJI Convocation Row

NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, announced on Friday that it will place before its Executive Council a directive from the Bar Council of India seeking an inquiry into students who opposed Chief Justice of India Surya Kant attending the university's convocation as chief guest.

In a press release issued by Vice-Chancellor Professor Srikrishna Deva Rao, the administration stated that it must examine whether conducting such an inquiry is constitutional and permissible under the university's governance regulations. The Executive Council serves as the highest decision-making body under the statute establishing the university.

The matter stems from a campaign at the Hyderabad law university opposing the proposed participation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant at the upcoming convocation. Following reports of the campaign, the Bar Council of India sent a letter dated August 13, 2026, which initially disallowed the enrolment of all graduating B.A., LL.B (Hons.) students from the Batch of 2026 as advocates across State Bar Councils and sought an inquiry report on those involved.

The council had asked the Vice-Chancellor for a factual report identifying individuals who initiated, organised, or mobilised the campaign against the convocation invite. Later on the same day, the regulatory body issued a second communication rescinding its directive that disallowed the enrolment of graduating students.

However, the council maintained its requirement for the Vice-Chancellor to submit an inquiry report regarding the controversy. NALSAR noted that, given the nature of the request, it needs to evaluate whether conducting the inquiry constitutes a constitutional exercise of its statutory powers. The university said the final outcome of the Executive Council's consultations will be formally communicated to the Bar Council of India.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court Bar Association President and Senior Advocate Vikas Singh condemned the regulatory body's now-withdrawn ban on student enrolments, describing the measure as arbitrary, illegal, and disproportionate. In an August 13 letter addressed to Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, Singh argued that the blanket restriction was an attempt to intimidate law students for exercising their fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.