Hyderabad: The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Thursday modified its earlier directions and cleared the way for all 2026 pass-out students of National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) University of Law in Hyderabad, to enroll with the State Bar Councils of their choice.
In a letter dated Thursday issued by the BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, the Council said that after thorough discussion and deliberation, its members had unanimously concluded that the vast majority of the 2026 pass-out students were innocent and had not been inclined to participate in the alleged “move of disrespect”.
Accordingly, the BCI modified the order contained in its earlier letter of the same date that had imposed a ban on the enrolment of NALSAR students.
The modified directive now entitles all such students to seek enrolment with any State Bar Council of their choice.
The letter noted that reliable sources had indicated that a handful of teachers and outsiders were instrumental in instigating the innocent students.
The Council said it would await the inquiry report of the Vice-Chancellor of NALSAR and take further action only after receiving the report.
Emphasising fairness, the BCI said: “No student shall be made to suffer without any fault on his part.”
The communication was addressed to Srikrishna Deva Rao, the Vice-Chancellor of NALSAR University of Law, and the Secretaries of all State Bar Councils.
It was issued with the approval of the Council.
In a post on social media platform X, Manan Kumar Mishra, who is also a Senior Advocate and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, confirmed the decision.
He wrote that after detailed deliberation, the Bar Council of India had modified its earlier directions concerning NALSAR.
All 2026 passed-out students would now be entitled to seek enrolment with the State Bar Council of their choice.
The factual inquiry would continue, and further action would follow on the basis of the report.
He reiterated that no student should be made to suffer without any fault on his or her part.
The development comes after the BCI had earlier issued directions that affected the enrolment of the graduating batch amid reports of certain incidents at the university.
The modified order is expected to provide immediate relief to the students who had completed their courses and were awaiting enrolment as advocates.
(IANS)
