Manan Kumar Mishra, chairman of the Bar Council of India (BCI), became the centre of a controversy on Thursday after the statutory regulator initially directed State Bar Councils not to enrol any 2026 law graduate from Hyderabad-based NALSAR University of Law as an advocate. The order followed a campaign by some students opposing the invitation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to the university's convocation.
Hours later, Mishra withdrew the communication and said the BCI had reconsidered its earlier direction. In a fresh letter issued late Thursday, he said the council had “thoroughly discussed and deliberated” on his earlier communication and had decided to modify its direction.
