Bombay Bar Association Condemns BCI Chairman Over NALSAR Directive

The Bombay Bar Association has condemned the recent actions of Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra concerning students of NALSAR University of Law, describing his August 13 communication as an abuse of power.

In a formal letter dated August 18, the association stated that its Standing Committee met on August 17 and 18 to deliberate on the sequence of developments that unfolded between August 13 and August 15.

The controversy began after Mishra issued a directive instructing state bar councils not to enrol students graduating from Hyderabad's NALSAR University of Law in 2026 as advocates. The directive was issued following objections raised by some students against an invitation extended to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to attend the university convocation as chief guest.

Mishra later withdrew the directive and closed the proceedings initiated against the students. He also issued an apology on August 15.

However, the Bombay Bar Association said the August 13 communication was an abuse of the office of the BCI chairman because it was issued without giving the affected students any opportunity to be heard. The association noted that a large section of students had been condemned unheard.

The association pointed out that the directive had caused grave prejudice to the professional careers of the NALSAR students.

Addressing the subsequent apology released by the BCI chairman on August 15, the association criticised the move as belated, stating that it appeared to be intended merely to assuage the situation.