Bengaluru law students unite against visiting top judicial officials.

Students and alumni from the National Law School of India University in Bengaluru are formally objecting to their upcoming convocation guests. They strongly oppose plans to host Chief Justice Surya Kant and Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra at the graduation ceremony. This backlash expands upon recent unrest at Hyderabad's National Academy of Legal Studies and Research. Historically, law colleges in India serve as vocal centers for debate, frequently holding regulatory bodies accountable for evolving policy decisions.

Solidarity with Hyderabad Peers

Graduates from the Bengaluru campus released a letter on Saturday expressing "unconditional solidarity" with their Hyderabad counterparts. The controversy started when a segment of the 2026 NALSAR graduating class criticised the Chief Justice's previous courtroom comments. He reportedly told lawyers not to waste his time during a petition regarding police actions at Jantar Mantar protest.

Following that initial objection, the Bar Council briefly directed state councils to deny enrollment to the entire 2026 Hyderabad batch. Officials argued that disrespecting the highest judicial office disqualified candidates from becoming responsible advocates. Chairman Mishra later reversed this severe directive. He acknowledged that young scholars deserve respect for their "dignity, independence of thought and legitimate concerns."

Demands for Institutional Accountability

Bengaluru scholars argue this situation reaches far beyond a simple guest list dispute. They emphasised that aspiring lawyers must retain the freedom to critique public officials without risking their entire professional careers. The student body is now demanding an unconditional apology from the regulatory council directed at the Hyderabad faculty and students. They also accused regulators of violating fundamental free speech rights and questioned why official letterheads carried the retaliatory enrollment threats.