You’re graduating from one of India’s top law schools. You’ve spent five years dissecting constitutional theory, mastering procedural codes, and preparing to enter a profession that claims to be the guardian of justice. Then, your university announces that the Chief Justice of India will be your convocation speaker.
For many students at NALSAR University of Law this year, this wasn't a moment of pride. It was a crisis of conscience.
When hundreds of students protested the invitation of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) to their graduation, they weren't just being difficult. They were practicing the very thing they spent years studying: the exercise of legitimate dissent.
The Core of the Discomfort
The protest didn't happen in a vacuum. It was sparked by specific remarks made by the CJI during a hearing regarding police actions during protests in Delhi. To the students, a flippant "don't waste our time" directed at those seeking justice wasn't just a rude courtroom moment. It felt like a betrayal of the judicial duty to listen to grievances, especially those involving state power and constitutional rights.
It’s easy to dismiss this as "kids being kids" or "groupthink." But look closer. These students are trained to analyze the power dynamics between the state and the individual. If they see a disconnect between the robes the CJI wears and the values the office is supposed to represent, they have a professional obligation to speak up.
When the Regulator Overreaches
The situation turned ugly when the Bar Council of India (BCI) decided to intervene. Their initial move to block the entire 2026 graduating batch from enrolling as lawyers was, frankly, an abuse of power.
Think about the sheer scale of that threat. You finish your exams, pay your fees, and prepare for your career, only to be told by a regulatory body that you’re a "liability" for questioning a public official. That’s not how you cultivate a responsible legal profession. That’s how you build an echo chamber.
Senior advocates rightly pointed out that the BCI had no jurisdiction to impose collective punishment. Thankfully, common sense—and a nudge from the Supreme Court—forced a swift reversal. But the damage to the relationship between the regulator and the next generation of lawyers was done.
The Real Value of a Law Degree
Why does this matter to you? Because the legal profession in India is currently at a turning point. We often treat judges with a level of deference that borders on the divine. We forget that the judiciary is an institution, and institutions, like any other, are subject to critique.
A university that suppresses dissent isn't an academic institution; it’s a training camp. NALSAR’s students, by choosing to object, showed that they understand that the Constitution isn't just a textbook. It's a living document that requires constant, sometimes uncomfortable, protection.
Lessons from the NALSAR Row
If you’re a student or a professional, there are three things to take away from this incident:
- Autonomy is non-negotiable. Universities must remain spaces where students can challenge authority without fearing for their professional future. Once you lose that, you lose the ability to think critically.
- Professional ethics include the courage to speak. Advocacy isn't just about winning cases. It’s about maintaining a standard of conduct, even when it means calling out those at the very top.
- Institutional accountability is healthy. If a judge’s comments trigger widespread public backlash from the people best equipped to interpret the law, maybe the problem isn't the students. Maybe the problem is the communication from the bench.
Moving Forward
The controversy is cooling down, but the conversation shouldn't. Whether the CJI eventually attends the convocation or not is almost beside the point. The students have made their stance clear. They’ve signaled that they aren't looking to join a profession that demands blind obedience.
They’re looking for a justice system that holds itself to the same standards it demands of everyone else. That’s the kind of legal community we need.
If you’re entering the field, remember that your degree is more than a license to practice. It’s a call to hold power accountable. Don't be afraid to use your voice, even if it feels unpopular. History rarely favors those who stayed silent when they knew better.
Can criticising a CJI stop you from becoming a lawyer?
This video provides a brief summary of the NALSAR-CJI controversy and clarifies the powers of the Bar Council regarding student protests.
http://googleusercontent.com/youtube_content/1
