New Delhi, Sept. 3: The Supreme Court has ruled that the Bar Council of India (BCI) has no statutory power to regulate the conduct of law students.
The court said educational institutions must handle student conduct under their own rules and regulations.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana passed the order while hearing the NALSAR controversy.
The case concerned BCI action against students of Hyderabad’s NALSAR University of Law over their objections to the CJI’s proposed participation in the university’s convocation.
Supreme Court Sets Aside BCI Notifications in NALSAR Row
The Supreme Court set aside two BCI notifications issued in connection with the controversy. The BCI had withdrawn both notifications within hours after facing widespread criticism.
The bench said the BCI cannot exercise regulatory control over students before they become advocates and enter the statutory framework governing the legal profession.
It said the educational institution concerned must consider any action against students under its own rules.
The controversy began on August 14 after the BCI directed state bar councils not to enrol NALSAR’s 2026 graduates as advocates until further orders.
The direction followed allegations concerning a campaign against Chief Justice Surya Kant’s proposed visit to the university.
When the issue was mentioned before the Supreme Court, the CJI had criticised the BCI’s intervention and said the matter involved a dialogue between students and him.
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