The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has demanded the resignation of Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Kumar Mishra after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant criticised the Council’s intervention in the controversy involving students of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad.
CJP co-convenor Saurav Das called for Mishra to step down, citing what he described as the BCI’s unwarranted intervention in the students’ right to protest.
“Moral responsibility commands that Manan Kumar Mishra resign,” Das said in a post on X, adding that “cockroaches both inside and outside courts” should ensure this happens.
CJI Surya Kant backs students’ right to protest
The demand came shortly after CJI Surya Kant strongly criticised the BCI during a Supreme Court hearing concerning its actions against NALSAR’s 2026 graduating batch.
The Chief Justice said the BCI had “no business” interfering with students’ right to protest and stressed that students cannot be prevented from expressing their concerns through lawful and peaceful demonstrations.
“If students have a cause or a reason to protest, they have a right to protest. Nobody can stop them, and we will not allow this,” CJI Kant said.
He further described the BCI’s intervention as “absolutely uncalled for”.
The Supreme Court also directed that, pending further proceedings, no punitive or criminal action should be taken against students or faculty of any national law university or other university in connection with the dispute.
What is the NALSAR controversy?
The controversy began after a section of NALSAR students objected to CJI Surya Kant being invited as the chief guest at the university’s convocation.
The students had referred to remarks attributed to the Chief Justice during Supreme Court proceedings concerning alleged police excesses during a student protest in Delhi.
The BCI subsequently directed State Bar Councils not to enrol NALSAR’s 2026 law graduates as advocates until further orders. It also sought details of students allegedly involved in organising or coordinating the campaign against the CJI’s proposed participation in the convocation.
The decision triggered criticism from students, lawyers and others.
BCI reverses enrolment freeze
The BCI later withdrew its initial enrolment freeze, saying the “vast majority” of students were innocent and should not suffer for the actions of others.
The Council initially retained an inquiry into the controversy but subsequently closed the proceedings altogether against the 2026 graduating batch.
BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra said the decision followed representations from senior advocates, members of the Bar, law students and members of the public.
Supreme Court seeks BCI response
A Supreme Court bench headed by CJI Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, took on record a petition challenging the BCI’s action and issued notice to the Council.
The BCI has been directed to file its counter-affidavit within two weeks.
The court also asked the Council to ensure that the NALSAR students’ enrolment was not held up.
The latest developments have intensified scrutiny of the BCI’s handling of the NALSAR controversy, with the Supreme Court making it clear that peaceful student dissent cannot be curtailed merely because it concerns a judicial or institutional figure.
