New Delhi, Aug. 14 -- A late-evening effort by the Bar Council of India to scuttle the enrolment of new graduates from top law school Nalsar-and its swift reversal following a public outcry-has sparked consternation in the legal fraternity, with senior lawyers saying the move has brought the statutory body into disrepute. The BCI's actions also drew a sharp rebuke from Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, whose invitation to the Nalsar convocation, ironically, had triggered the student protest that led to the now-withdrawn BCI diktat.

A Supreme Court bench led by Kant on Friday said students had a right to protest and that the regulator had "no business" intervening in the matter.

"Naturally, this is absolutely uncalled for. It's a dialog...