Hyderabad: Barely two days after threatening to withhold registration of NALSAR University of Law graduates as lawyers, Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Kumar Mishra on Saturday apologised to “all law students of the country” for his words and actions.Addressing the students on Independence Day, the lengthy three-page letter did not directly refer to NALSAR students but 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.”The apology came amid NALSAR students opposing Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant being invited as chief guest for their convocation. Around 450 students had submitted six representations to the university administration on July 23, asking it to reconsider the invitation for refusing to hear pleas against police brutality during the recent Jantar Mantar protests organised by the Cockroach Janta Party.The issue escalated on Aug 13 after the BCI directed state bar councils not to enroll NALSAR graduates and sought details of students and faculty involved in the representations. BCI subsequently withdrew the directive and closed the proceedings after the move drew widespread criticism, including from the CJI himself.On Saturday, Mishra’s apology letter added, “Our law students, particularly those studying in the National Law Universities and other leading centres of legal education, are among the most informed and discerning young citizens of the country. They study the Constitution, the Rule of Law, fairness and the importance of hearing all sides before reaching a conclusion.”The letter was shared on the official email ID of the Student Bar Council by the BCI chairman’s office and says, “Students must always remain free to express their views.”Obliquely referring to the NALSAR convocation, Mishra said, “The decision whether to participate must, of course, ultimately remain with the students themselves. No student should be compelled to attend, and no student should feel compelled to abstain. My only appeal is that the decision should be taken independently, after considering the matter in its entirety and according to their own judgement.”Mishra also said the relationship between the judiciary, bar, universities and law students was deeper than any temporary controversy and expressed hope that the issue would now be considered “with fairness and a spirit of reconciliation”.
