'Our interests are the same': BCI chairman Manan Mishra's first reaction to CJP amid NALSAR-CJI row

BCI chairman Manan Mishra said the BCI's interests are same as the CJP's and that it also wants to protect the rights of the students.

In his first reaction to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) after the NALSAR-CJI row, Bar Council of India chairman Manan Mishra on Friday said that the CJP's interests are same as the BCI's and that it also wants to protect the rights of the students.

Manan Mishra said the Bar Council of India aims to protect the interests of the youth of India. (ANI videograb)

“I want to communicate to Abhijeet Dipke and Sourav Das that our interests are the same as theirs, to protect the rights of the students,” Mishra said. His remarks come after a row erupted over the BCI’s decision to freeze the enrolment of the entire 2026 graduating batch of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, a move that was later rolled back.

The BCI’s initial move came in response to a section of NALSAR students opposing the proposed participation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as the chief guest at the university’s convocation.

Mishra emphasised that the primary intention of the BCI is to ensure that no law student faces obstacles or losses while securing internships in the judiciary.

"An order was issued yesterday, but the Council's meeting was held immediately. The Council discussed it and said, 'No, there is no need for this'. Actually, the intention is that no student should face any loss in getting an internship in the judiciary. Sometimes, we have seen in the past that due to certain reasons, the judiciary posed obstacles for students regarding internships," he said.

The BCI Chairman pointed out that restrictions have previously been placed on judicial internships, such as shortening Supreme Court internship stays from a full week to just two days, often accompanied by further limitations. He added that the Council acted swiftly to prevent any negative fallout on the academic and professional trajectories of the students.

BCI-NALSAR row

The entire episode started after some NALSAR University students wrote to the vice-chancellor, registrar, and professors, objecting to any proposal to invite CJI Surya Kant as the chief guest at the convocation.

The first representation was submitted on July 23, 2026 by 70 members of the outgoing LLB batch. Students from several later batches subsequently expressed their support for the representation, according to a previous HT report.

They had raised objections over CJI's remarks in the Supreme Court while hearing a plea concerning alleged police excesses against protesters during the student demonstration at Jantar Mantar on July 20.