New Delhi, Aug. 16 -- A day after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant came down hard on the Bar Council of India (BCI) for intervening in the NALSAR University of Law students' protest, BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra on Saturday apologised to law students, saying he "sincerely regret[s] and apologise[s]" if anything related to the controversy, including his words or letter, had hurt their feelings. In an Independence Day letter addressed to "my dear young friends", Mishra said the developments of the past few days had caused "concern and anguish" among a section of students and acknowledged that their concerns deserved to be heard "with patience, sensitivity and respect". "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," Mishra said. "There should be no hesitation in saying so. An expression of regret is not a matter of prestige or ego. It is simply an acknowledgment that the feelings and concerns of our students matter," he added. The apology came a day after CJI Kant told the BCI it had "no business" interfering in the NALSAR controversy and made it clear that students had a right to protest as long as their protests remained lawful and peaceful. The bench, headed by CJI Kant and comprising justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, also restrained the BCI and all state bar councils from pursuing punitive or criminal action against students and faculty of national law universities or other universities in connection with the controversy. The court's intervention followed the BCI's reversal over the enrolment of NALSAR, Hyderabad's 2026 graduating batch. The Council on Thursday initially directed all state bar councils not to enrol the students "till further orders". Hours later, it withdrew the freeze but retained an inquiry into allegations that some teachers and outsiders had instigated or misled students. On Friday, Mishra announced that proceedings against the entire 2026 batch were being closed. In Saturday's letter, Mishra stressed that law students must remain free to form their own views. "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," he said. They study the Constitution, the Rule of Law, fairness and the importance of hearing all sides before reaching a conclusion and "do not require anyone to decide for them". Mishra also defended the importance of dissent, saying peaceful disagreement, questioning and protest were "important features of a constitutional democracy" and that students "must always remain free to express their views". At the same time, he said issues could be reconsidered when further facts or clarifications emerged. "There is no inconsistency between expressing a genuine grievance and thereafter fairly considering a clarification," he said. On the NALSAR convocation, Mishra said the decision to attend must ultimately remain with the students. "No student should be compelled to attend, and no student should feel compelled to abstain," he said, appealing to them to decide independently after considering the matter in its entirety. The controversy erupted after a section of NALSAR students objected to CJI Kant being invited as chief guest for their convocation. The students cited remarks made by Kant during proceedings concerning alleged police excesses during student protests in Delhi and questioned whether his invitation was consistent with NALSAR's commitment to constitutional rights, access to justice and reasoned engagement with grievances. The BCI subsequently sought an authenticated report from NALSAR identifying those who had initiated, organised, coordinated or mobilised the campaign opposing Kant's participation in the convocation. The intervention triggered a backlash, culminating in Friday's SC hearing. Mishra's Saturday letter sought to draw a line under the controversy, stressing reconciliation over confrontation. "The relationship between the Judiciary, the Bar, Universities and law students is much deeper and more enduring than any temporary controversy," Mishra said....