BCI Chairman-NALSAR Row: Exploring the Back Story of 1-day Episode

The Bar Council of India (BCI) on 13th August, 2026, ordered all State Bar Councils to withhold enrolment of the entire 2026 graduating batch of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. The reason? A student campaign opposing the invitation to the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant as chief guest at NALSAR convocation. What’s more interesting is that within a few hours, BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra issued another letter modifying the order and permitting all NALSAR 2026 graduates to enroll with the State Bar Council of their choice. A day later, on August 14, Mishra announced on X that the inquiry into the matter would be closed altogether. 

Law Chronicle found it important to explain in chronological order what all happened and where it is coming from. Explore what prompted the BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra to target NALSAR students in the name of Bar enrolment and take it back within hours.  

Background: The "Cockroach" Remark and the Rise of CJP

The controversy traces back to May 2026, when Chief Justice Surya Kant made the “cockroaches” remark. The remark, made in whatever context, was widely circulated on social media and interpreted by many as targeting unemployed youth. Justice Surya Kant subsequently clarified that his comments had been taken out of context and were aimed at persons entering the legal profession through unrecognized degrees, not at the country's youth. 

The remark nonetheless triggered a wave of online criticism. The following day, Abhijeet Dipke, a political communications strategist and Boston University graduate, launched the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a satirical political movement built around the "cockroach" symbolism. What began as an online campaign grew into a youth-led movement that became associated with the wider 2026 CJP protest, taking up causes such as alleged NEET examination irregularities, unemployment, and police action against protesters, including demonstrations at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. What happened at Jantar Mantar in July 2026 eventually ended with Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. 

NALSAR Students and Convocation Tradition

Against the backdrop of CJI's Cockroach Remark, around 70 graduating students of NALSAR University of Law reportedly wrote to the Vice-Chancellor, registrar, professors, and university administration, urging reconsideration of CJI Surya Kant's invitation as chief guest for the 2026 convocation. The students argued that having the Chief Justice preside over the ceremony, in the aftermath of the "cockroach" remarks and the CJP-linked protests, would sit uneasily with values of constitutional accountability and academic freedom. Despite the students' representation, the CJI's participation as chief guest was reported to have gone ahead as planned. 

BCI Chairman's Letter: Enrolment Ban and Inquiry

On August 13, 2026, BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra addressed a letter to the NALSAR Vice-Chancellor and the Secretary of all State Bar Councils. The letter recorded that the BCI had taken note of reports concerning an "organised campaign" at NALSAR relating to the CJI's proposed participation in the convocation, and stated that the true factual position needed to be ascertained directly from the University rather than from media or social media reports. 

The letter invoked Sections 7(1)(b), 7(1)(g), 7(1)(h), 7(1)(i) and 49 of the Advocates Act, 1961, which relate to the BCI's authority to lay down standards of professional conduct and etiquette, supervise State Bar Councils, and prescribe standards for legal education. It cited the Supreme Court's judgment in Ex-Capt. Harish Uppal v. Union of India, (2002 CaseBase(SC) 843), on the professional obligations attaching to calls for strikes and boycotts by advocates. 

The letter alleged that, as per "reliable sources," groupism and internal politics among some academic staff had played a role in "misleading, instigating and misguiding" students, and directed the Vice-Chancellor to furnish, within three days, an authenticated report identifying persons: students, faculty, research scholars, alumni, or outsiders, principally instrumental in initiating, drafting, organizing, coordinating, or mobilizing the campaign, along with copies of any related representations, petitions, or meeting records. 

Pending this inquiry, the letter directed: "Till further orders, no student of NALSAR University of Law, who has obtained the Law Degree in the year 2026, shall be enrolled by any State Bar Council as an Advocate." It clarified that the BCI was not, at that stage, recording that any person stood disqualified under Section 24A of the Advocates Act, but stated that pending enrolment applications would be deferred where an individual's conduct was under examination. A final decision was slated for August 19, 2026, after receipt of the Vice-Chancellor's report. 

Abhijeet Dipke’s X Post

The Cockroach Janta Party now has a face – Abhijeet Dipke, who led the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar. After BCI Chairman came up with a bar on enrolment for NALSAR students, Abhijeet Dipke came up with another X post which read “Time for Manan Mishra isteefa do?”, meaning “Is it time for seeking Manan Mishra’s resignation?”  

Thought it may, or it may not have any impact on what happened next with the withdrawal of BCI Chairman’s NALSAR decision. However, people across the internet are calling it as “Dar ka Maahol Hai”, implying that those in power are under pressure since CJP Protest. 

Same-Day Rollback of BCI Chairman's NALSAR Student Enrolment Bar

Hours after the first letter, the BCI issued a second communication, also dated 13th August, 2026, addressed to the same recipients. It stated that the Council had "thoroughly discussed and deliberated" over the Chairman's earlier letter and, after such discussion, unanimously concluded that the "vast majority" of the 2026 pass-out students were innocent and had not been inclined to participate in the campaign. The letter modified the BCI Chairman's NALSAR order "with regard to the ban on the enrolment of the NALSAR Students," stating that all students would be entitled to enrol with the State Bar Council of their choice, and added: "No student shall be made to suffer without any fault on his part." 

Inquiry Closed a Day Later

On 14th August, 2026, Mishra posted on X that after considering representations from senior advocates, members of the Bar, law students, and members of the public, and being satisfied that the NALSAR 2026 batch had no role in any disturbance or movement, the BCI had decided to close the proceedings altogether, stating that no further action was required. 

Reports on the BCI Chairman-NALSAR episode noted that the initial order and its rollback followed considerable reaction on social media over the letter's tone and content. It cited both the NALSAR students' original campaign against the CJI's invitation and reactions from figures including CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who had earlier led the protest movement that emerged from the "cockroach" remark controversy.  

CJI Surya Kant's Reaction

As per recent reports, Chief Justice Surya Kant also does not seem to be happy with the BCI Chairman's NALSAR reaction upon students against their bar enrolment. Justice Surya Kant found the action against NALSAR students graduating in 2026 uncalled for. Quoting the CJI's remarks on the BCI directive, "This is absolutely uncalled for. It’s a dialogue between students and me. Who are they to raise an issue?" 
Chief Justice seemingly wants to keep the controversy between himself and the students, which is where it all started on student's opposition against CJI as the Chief Justice. That's why when the matter was orally mentioned, the Bench issued a notice to the Bar Council of India. The Court in its order also clarified that “no punitive action shall be taken against the students or Faculty of NALSAR University of Law at the instance of Bar Council of India or any State Bar Council in respect of the incidents mentioned in the subject letters”.