Cockroach Janata Party ( CJP ) co-convenor Saurav Das on Friday demanded the resignation of Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Kumar Mishra after Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant slammed the BCI for intervening in the NALSAR University of Law enrolment row.
He also made it clear that the court would not permit students to be prevented from raising their concerns through lawful and peaceful protests. “The BCI is unnecessarily taking action in this matter. If students have a cause or a reason to protest, they have a right to protest.
The chief justice said the Council had “no business” getting involved in the students’ right to protest. Nobody can stop them, and we will not allow this,” said the CJI after senior advocate K Parameshwar raised the issue before the bench. Parameshwar said the BCI had “no business” dealing with matters inside a university and argued that its action infringed on the students’ fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression. He said the BCI’s decision to withdraw its first letter freezing enrolment did not remove the cause of action against the Council. “It spells a lot about the functioning of the BCI,” Parameshwar said. The BCI initially said its factual inquiry into the controversy would continue, but later reversed this decision as well.
