Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said at an event in Bengaluru on Saturday that 'it is important to respect the dignity of others in expressing disagreement.'
He had come to Bengaluru to attend the convocation ceremony of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU).
Earlier, amid a controversy, NLSIU had canceled its 34th convocation, which was to be held on September 12. The university had cited 'unavoidable circumstances' for this.
In fact, last August, students of Hyderabad-based National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) Law University had asked to reconsider the proposal of making CJI a guest in their convocation ceremony.
The controversy further escalated when Bar Council of India President and BJP MP Manan Mishra wrote a letter directing an earlier ban on the enrollment of graduates of the 2026 batch.
In protest against this, students and alumni of NLSIU had written an open letter expressing solidarity with Nalsar students. However, later after the intervention of CJI, Manan Mishra withdrew his letter.
At that time, CJI Surya Kant had criticized BCI, calling it 'a matter between himself and the students' and had scolded BCI for 'unnecessary interference'.
NALSAR is considered to be the leading law university of the country while NLSIU of Bengaluru is considered to be the second largest law university of the country.
After the controversy, NLSIU changed the date of the ceremony to October 17. The revised date was approved by the Executive Council and General Council of the University. These meetings were presided over by CJI Surya Kant as Chancellor.
After this controversy, CJI Surya Kant had attended the convocation for the first time.
According to news agency PTI, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, famous artist Arundhati Nag, Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru, NLSIU Vice Chancellor Professor Sudhir Krishnaswamy and others were also present in the program organized at NLSIU.
In the convocation ceremony, CJI Surya Kant indirectly pointed towards the controversy that took place in the past.
He urged students to develop intellectual freedom, impartiality and respect for different views.
He said, "I often think that the legal profession is not for the faint of heart. It requires a deep understanding of the law and court decisions, as well as the courage to defend just causes and the humility to listen to those voices that are often unheard."
He said, "Impartiality is also important for this intellectual freedom. Listening before passing judgment, considering a person different from his opinion and expressing disagreement without hurting the dignity of the other person."
According to Bar & Bench, the CJI said, "The law will challenge your patience, test your morality and demand you to use your courage to the fullest. But it will also give you a special joy of serving. The satisfaction of righting a wrong, the pride of defending liberty and the honor of upholding the Constitution."
Why was there a dispute
In the same year, a controversy had arisen over the proposal to invite CJI Surya Kant to the convocation ceremony of NALSAR Law University, Hyderabad.
In fact, some students submitted a petition to the university administration through email requesting them to reconsider the proposal of inviting the CJI.
The protesting students were protesting against Justice Surya Kant's alleged remarks in which he had called unemployed youth 'cockroaches'. However, CJI Surya Kant himself later said that his remarks were 'misrepresented'.
On July 20 this year, on the call of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), youth and students had marched towards Parliament in Delhi.
A lawyer filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the lathicharge by the police on students and youth.
The lawyer said, "There is video evidence of police brutality. Students are protesting at Jantar Mantar. The police is behaving very strictly."
Responding to this petition, the CJI commented, "Don't waste your time, don't waste our time too."
Students of NALSAR University expressed their objections by sending a petition through email, in which they cited the Chief Justice's comments on youth and students.
After this, Bar Council of India (BCI) President and BJP MP Manan Mishra had directed the state bar councils not to nominate any graduate of the 2026 batch of NALSAR.
Amidst this controversy, students and alumni of National Law School of India University, Bangalore issued an open letter in support of NALSAR students.
He had demanded that the decision to invite CJI Surya Kant and BCI President Manan Kumar Mishra to the convocation ceremony in Bengaluru should be reconsidered.
CJI Surya Kant had expressed his displeasure
Since then, Manan Mishra and BCI have become the center of discussions on social media.
According to Live Law, at that time the CJI had said, "BCI is taking unnecessary action. If students have any issue to protest then they have the right to protest."
"Maybe the students have written a letter to me. This is a communication between the students and me. Who is BCI to raise this issue unnecessarily? It is completely unnecessary. BCI has nothing to do with it."
Referring to his student life, he had said that he himself has been involved in student activities.
