BENGALURU: Students and alumni of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) have expressed strong disapproval of Bar Council of India (BCI) chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra attending the university’s convocation without taking responsibility for his conduct in the NALSAR University of Law matter, as well as that of the Chief Justice of India.In a statement signed by 165 graduating students of the Class of 2026, 409 current students and 128 alumni, the NLSIU community also extended “unconditional solidarity” to the students and faculty of NALSAR.The students described convocation as a “monumental event” in a student’s academic life and an important milestone for their families.“Inviting persons in high office to confer degrees on students towards whom they have publicly expressed disdain and condescension is offensive, humiliating, and a mockery of students and their struggles,” they said.“We stand in solidarity with NALSAR in its request to reconsider the choice of the Chief Justice of India as the chief guest for its convocation and express our strong disapproval of the CJI attending the NLSIU convocation for the same reasons,” the statement released Saturday read.The students demanded that the BCI issue an unconditional apology to the student and faculty community at NALSAR for attempting to infringe upon their fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.They also called upon the BCI to clarify the protocol governing the use of its official letterhead by the chairperson.The students criticised the BCI’s directions to NALSAR to identify the students and faculty members involved in making the representation, describing the move as a “witch-hunt”.They warned that such actions could have a chilling effect on free speech across universities by “sending them a clear signal that any act of dissent will be met with severe personal and professional consequences”.They argued that the BCI’s actions were beyond the powers vested in it under the Advocates Act-1961, and alleged that the directions amounted to an interference with the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a).The statement also criticised what it described as a pattern of partisan political comments by the BCI chairperson, saying such repeated conduct had eroded public trust in the legal profession.“As young lawyers and citizens of this country, we demand a better BCI,” they said.The statement noted that the BCI had subsequently closed the proceedings against NALSAR, but argued that the initiation of such proceedings by a statutory body was itself a matter of concern.The signatories said they had issued the statement to “set the record straight” and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
