Before the controversy at NALSAR Law College could even settle, a similar dispute has now erupted at the National Law School in Bengaluru. Current students and alumni there have strongly criticized the decision to invite Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant and Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra as chief guests to their college event.
A few days earlier, some students at NALSAR Law College in Hyderabad had objected to inviting the CJI to their college event. Angered by this, the Bar Council took the sensational decision to deny law practice licenses to the entire 2026 batch of students from that college. However, following widespread outrage over this decision, the Bar Council immediately withdrew the order. Chairman Mishra even issued an apology, stating that student opinions and their rights would be respected.
Now, students at the Bengaluru college have come out in support of the NALSAR students. In a letter, they stated that it is deeply wrong to threaten to ruin students’ futures simply because they question powerful individuals or government institutions. They demanded that the Bar Council issue an unconditional apology to the NALSAR students.
This entire dispute originally began with an incident in Delhi. During the hearing of a case alleging police brutality during a Cockroach Janata Party protest near Jantar Mantar, reports emerged claiming that CJI Surya Kant had said, “Don’t waste our time.” He later clarified that he had only asked that the case be filed properly. Even so, NALSAR students, unhappy with his remarks, opposed his invitation to their event.
Angered by the students’ stance, the Bar Council imposed a ban on their licenses, stating that those who do not respect the court cannot become good lawyers. However, following nationwide protests, it acknowledged that punishing everyone for the actions of a few was wrong and withdrew the order that very night. This matter has now become a major point of debate among the Supreme Court, the Bar Council, and law students across the country.