NALSAR Students Are Brilliant, Bold & Brave : Justice Ujjal Bhuyan

Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan today (October 4) praised the students of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, describing them as “brilliant, bold and brave”, weeks after the university's graduating batch faced a blanket enrolment ban(later withdrawn) imposed by the Bar Council of India (BCI) over a campaign opposing Chief Justice of India Surya Kant's proposed participation in the university's convocation.

Delivering the valedictory address at the 19th NALSAR Justice BR Sawhney Memorial Moot Court Competition 2026, Justice Bhuyan said that the students had demonstrated to the country and the world what a university student, particularly a law student, should be.

“Before I wind up, one last word about the brilliant students of NALSAR. You have shown to the country and to the world what a university student, that too, a student of law should be. You are brilliant; you are bold; and you are brave,” he said.

In August, a section of NALSAR's graduating batch objected to the proposed invitation of CJI Surya Kant as the chief guest at the university's convocation, reportedly over the CJI's remarks during court proceedings concerning alleged police excesses against protesters in Delhi.

The campaign prompted BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra to issue a direction on August 13, to State Bar Councils barring them from enrolling any graduate from NALSAR's 2026 batch until further orders.

He also directed the university's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Srikrishna Deva Rao, to submit a report identifying students, faculty members, research scholars, alumni and others allegedly involved in organising the campaign against the CJI's participation. The BCI Chairman also questioned the conduct of the students and alleged that faculty members were misleading them.

In response, the university did not immediately proceed with the inquiry as directed by the BCI. Professor Deva Rao said that the university would examine the legality of the BCI's directions and place the matter before its Executive Council, its highest decision-making body, to determine whether the proposed inquiry was permissible under the university's governing framework.

Hours after the BCI Chairman issued the order, the Council withdrew the bar on enrolment of NALSAR's graduating students. In a late night post after that, the BCI Chairman announced that the entire proceedings against the batch have been dropped.

The controversy also reached the Supreme Court, and a petition was filed challenging the BCI Chairman's directions. The Court intervened on August 14, directing that no punitive action be taken against NALSAR students or faculty members in connection with the campaign.

On September 3, the Court held that the BCI had no statutory authority to take disciplinary action against law students and declared its communications concerning the NALSAR graduates to be without authority of law.

Against this backdrop, Justice Bhuyan's public praise of the students assumes significance, although he did not explicitly refer to the controversy or the BCI's actions during his address.

Justice Bhuyan also praised the university's faculty members, saying that they had discharged their duties admirably and fulfilled the responsibilities expected of university teachers.

He particularly commended Vice-Chancellor Professor Srikrishna Deva Rao, remarking that he has led the university well.

“To the faculty members, you have performed your duties admirably; you have done what a university teacher is expected to do. The Vice-Chancellor should also not be left out. It was during my tenure as the Chancellor that Professor Rao was appointed as the Vice Chancellor. I must say that he has led the University admirably. He has not let the teachers and the students down,” he said.

Justice Bhuyan has previously served as NALSAR's ex-officio Chancellor during his tenure as Chief Justice of Telangana High Court from June 2022 to July 2023.

Also from the event - Any Process Taking Away Voting Rights Of Millions Of Citizens Is Unjustifiable, No Court Can Condone It: Justice Ujjal Bhuyan

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