BCI Chairman Apologises to Law Students After Enrolment Ban Backlash
The Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman, Manan Kumar Mishra, has apologised to law students for any hurt caused by his recent words or communications. The apology comes days after the council attempted to prevent NALSAR University students from enrolling with State Bar Councils, a move that was withdrawn after facing widespread criticism from legal educators, student bodies, and others.
In a three-page letter issued on Independence Day, Mr. Mishra, who is also a senior advocate and a Bharatiya Janata Party MP, said he regretted and apologised for any statements or directives that may have hurt students. “If anything connected with the present controversy, any of my words, or letter, has hurt the feelings of our law students, I sincerely regret and apologise for the same. There should be no hesitation in saying so. An expression of regret is not a matter of prestige or ego. It is simply an acknowledgment that the feelings and concerns of our students matter,” he wrote.
Mr. Mishra did not name any particular institution or directly identify the controversy in his letter. Instead, he focused on the concerns raised by students and stressed that their views should be heard with patience, sensitivity, and respect. He said law students, particularly those studying at national law universities and other leading institutions, are capable of forming their own views and should not be subjected to pressure or influence. He further said students should be allowed to independently assess the facts and reach their own conclusions.
Acknowledging that protests are an important part of democracy, Mr. Mishra said that students must always remain free to express their views. At the same time, he added, the legal tradition teaches that when further facts or clarifications emerge, every issue should be reconsidered objectively and with an open mind. “There is no inconsistency between expressing a genuine grievance and thereafter fairly considering a clarification,” he said.
Describing convocation ceremonies as important milestones in the lives of graduating students and their families, Mr. Mishra said the choice of whether to attend must rest entirely with the students. He added that no student should be forced either to participate or to stay away.
The controversy was triggered by NALSAR students who did not want the Chief Justice of India to be the chief guest at their convocation because of his comments about student protests. The BCI had then directed State Bar Councils not to enrol students from the university, a move that drew sharp criticism. The council later withdrew the directive after a backlash. The Chief Justice also criticised the BCI’s actions as inappropriate.
In his letter, Mr. Mishra emphasised that differences between the judiciary, the Bar, universities, and law students should not be allowed to damage their relationship in the long term. Disagreements should ultimately be addressed through dialogue, clarification, and mutual respect, he said. He appealed for the issue to be approached with an attitude of fairness and reconciliation. “The issue should not be allowed to acquire a political or extraneous colour through outside influence. Our law students are mature and discerning enough to examine the facts, consider the clarification offered, and take their own independent decision,” he added.
