Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Kumar Mishra on Saturday expressed regret over the “concern and anguish” among a section of law students following the controversy surrounding NALSAR University of Law.&nbsp;The controversy began after the BCI directed state units not to register 2026 graduates of Hyderabad's NALSAR as advocates over their objection to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant attending their convocation. The BCI later withdrew the order.&nbsp;The directive triggered widespread criticism, with the CJI also rebuking the BCI on Friday. He said the events at NALSAR were “a dialogue between students and me”.&nbsp;Mishra, who is also a BJP Rajya Sabha member, said students' concerns must receive attention whenever they feel aggrieved.&nbsp;He said, “If anything connected with the present controversy, any of my words, or letter, has hurt the feelings of our law students, I sincerely regret and apologise for the same.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“An expression of regret is not a matter of prestige or ego”, and described it as “simply an acknowledgement that the feelings and concerns of our students matter,” he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jharkhand-protest-student-activist-mahto-alleges-assault-blocked-from-tiranga-yatra-1786811867028">Jharkhand protest: Student activist Mahto alleges assault, blocked from Tiranga Yatra</a><h2>The NALSAR row</h2>The controversy erupted on August 13 when Mishra directed state Bar Councils to prevent NALSAR's 2026 graduating class from enrolling as advocates.&nbsp;He also asked the university's Vice Chancellor to conduct an inquiry into students, faculty members and alumni who had opposed the CJI's proposed presence as chief guest at the convocation.&nbsp;A later modified letter allowed the graduates to enrol but retained the inquiry and alleged that a “handful of teachers and outsiders” had “instigated innocent students”.&nbsp;Following strong public criticism, Mishra announced on X that all proceedings against NALSAR had been cancelled.&nbsp;Earlier on Saturday, more than 700 students and alumni of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, expressed support for NALSAR students.&nbsp;The NLSIU statement demanded an unconditional apology from the BCI to NALSAR students and faculty over what it called an attempt to restrict their freedom of speech and expression.&nbsp;On the convocation issue, Mishra urged students to make their own choices without pressure. “No student should be compelled to attend, and no student should feel compelled to abstain,” he said,&nbsp;He also called for the dispute to be resolved through dialogue and mutual respect instead of taking on a “political or extraneous colour through outside influence”.&nbsp;Mishra urged institutions to respect students' independent thinking and provide space for “dialogue and moving forward without bitterness”.

BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra expressed regret and apologised to law students amid backlash over the withdrawn directive against NALSAR graduates, while calling for dialogue and respect for students' views.

Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Kumar Mishra on Saturday expressed regret over the “concern and anguish” among a section of law students following the controversy surrounding NALSAR University of Law. The controversy began after the BCI directed state units not to register 2026 graduates of Hyderabad's NALSAR as advocates over their objection to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant attending their convocation. The BCI later withdrew the order. The directive triggered widespread criticism, with the CJI also rebuking the BCI on Friday. He said the events at NALSAR were “a dialogue between students and me”. Mishra, who is also a BJP Rajya Sabha member, said students' concerns must receive attention whenever they feel aggrieved. He said, “If anything connected with the present controversy, any of my words, or letter, has hurt the feelings of our law students, I sincerely regret and apologise for the same.” “An expression of regret is not a matter of prestige or ego”, and described it as “simply an acknowledgement that the feelings and concerns of our students matter,” he added. Also Read: Jharkhand protest: Student activist Mahto alleges assault, blocked from Tiranga Yatra The NALSAR row The controversy erupted on August 13 when Mishra directed state Bar Councils to prevent NALSAR's 2026 graduating class from enrolling as advocates. He also asked the university's Vice Chancellor to conduct an inquiry into students, faculty members and alumni who had opposed the CJI's proposed presence as chief guest at the convocation. A later modified letter allowed the graduates to enrol but retained the inquiry and alleged that a “handful of teachers and outsiders” had “instigated innocent students”. Following strong public criticism, Mishra announced on X that all proceedings against NALSAR had been cancelled. Earlier on Saturday, more than 700 students and alumni of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, expressed support for NALSAR students. The NLSIU statement demanded an unconditional apology from the BCI to NALSAR students and faculty over what it called an attempt to restrict their freedom of speech and expression. On the convocation issue, Mishra urged students to make their own choices without pressure. “No student should be compelled to attend, and no student should feel compelled to abstain,” he said, He also called for the dispute to be resolved through dialogue and mutual respect instead of taking on a “political or extraneous colour through outside influence”. Mishra urged institutions to respect students' independent thinking and provide space for “dialogue and moving forward without bitterness”.

BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra expressed regret and apologised to law students amid backlash over the withdrawn directive against NALSAR graduates, while calling for dialogue and respect for students' views.

NALSAR row: BCI chairman Mishra apologises after backlash over advocate registration order

Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha member Manan Kumar Mishra has been encircled in a growing controversy after the Bar Council of India (BCI) decided to halt the enrolment of NALSAR University’s 2026 graduating batch, which has triggered a legal and political storm. He has led the Bar Council of India (BCI) for over a decade. After triggering sharp criticism from legal circles as well as drawing strong observations from the Supreme Court, the episode has reignited scrutiny of Mishra's extended tenure at the head of the country's apex body. Amid the controversy, a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court calling for structural reforms within the BCI, including the introduction of fixed tenures and term limits for its chairman and other office-bearers. This comes even as the BCI faced backlash for initially instructing state bar councils not to enrol NALSAR's 2026 graduates as advocates, following a student campaign opposing the university's proposed invitation to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as chief guest at its convocation. The order was withdrawn within hours amid widespread criticism.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/we-have-strong-ties-with-italy-mea-reacts-to-congress-party-s-meloni-remarks-1786713206406">'We have strong ties with Italy': MEA reacts to Congress party's Meloni remarks</a><h3>Who is Manan Kumar Mishra?</h3>Mishra is a senior advocate and BJP-nominated Rajya Sabha member from Bihar who has acted as chairman of the BCI since November 2014 and was re-elected to the post for a record seventh consecutive term in 2025, as the BCI chairperson is elected for a two-year term. Mishra hails from Gopalganj district in Bihar and has completed his BSc (Honours) from Rajendra College, Chapra. He later pursued his LLB from Patna Law College. After his law degree, he started his legal practice at the Gopalganj Civil Court and then moved to the Patna High Court in 1982. He went on to become a senior advocate in the Supreme Court. Mishra has also pursued a political career alongside his legal work. He ran in the 2010 Bihar Assembly election on a Congress ticket before later switching to the BJP. In 2024, the BJP put him forward for a Rajya Sabha seat from Bihar, where he won unopposed. &nbsp;

Amid the controversy, a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court calling for structural reforms within the BCI, including the introduction of fixed tenures and term limits for its chairman and other office-bearers.

Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha member Manan Kumar Mishra has been encircled in a growing controversy after the Bar Council of India (BCI) decided to halt the enrolment of NALSAR University’s 2026 graduating batch, which has triggered a legal and political storm. He has led the Bar Council of India (BCI) for over a decade. After triggering sharp criticism from legal circles as well as drawing strong observations from the Supreme Court, the episode has reignited scrutiny of Mishra's extended tenure at the head of the country's apex body. Amid the controversy, a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court calling for structural reforms within the BCI, including the introduction of fixed tenures and term limits for its chairman and other office-bearers. This comes even as the BCI faced backlash for initially instructing state bar councils not to enrol NALSAR's 2026 graduates as advocates, following a student campaign opposing the university's proposed invitation to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as chief guest at its convocation. The order was withdrawn within hours amid widespread criticism. Also read: 'We have strong ties with Italy': MEA reacts to Congress party's Meloni remarks Who is Manan Kumar Mishra? Mishra is a senior advocate and BJP-nominated Rajya Sabha member from Bihar who has acted as chairman of the BCI since November 2014 and was re-elected to the post for a record seventh consecutive term in 2025, as the BCI chairperson is elected for a two-year term. Mishra hails from Gopalganj district in Bihar and has completed his BSc (Honours) from Rajendra College, Chapra. He later pursued his LLB from Patna Law College. After his law degree, he started his legal practice at the Gopalganj Civil Court and then moved to the Patna High Court in 1982. He went on to become a senior advocate in the Supreme Court. Mishra has also pursued a political career alongside his legal work. He ran in the 2010 Bihar Assembly election on a Congress ticket before later switching to the BJP. In 2024, the BJP put him forward for a Rajya Sabha seat from Bihar, where he won unopposed.

Amid the controversy, a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court calling for structural reforms within the BCI, including the introduction of fixed tenures and term limits for its chairman and other office-bearers.

Who is Manan Kumar Mishra? Senior advocate in spotlight amid BCI–NALSAR University row

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NALSAR row: BCI chairman Mishra apologises after backlash over advocate registration order

Who is Manan Kumar? Senior advocate in spotlight amid BCI–NALSAR University row