SC Strikes Down BCI Orders Against Nalsar Students Over CJI Protest
· India · Times of India, NDTV, India Today
The Supreme Court on Thursday held that the Bar Council of India has no statutory authority to regulate the conduct of law students, setting aside two BCI notifications issued against students of Hyderabad's Nalsar University of Law. The dispute began after several Nalsar students submitted at least six representations starting July 23, asking the university to reconsider its invitation to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as chief guest at the convocation. The students cited remarks attributed to CJI Kant during a hearing on alleged police excesses against protesters during a July 20 march to Parliament, including his statement: "We are not interested in videos; we don't have time to watch." BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra then directed state Bar Councils not to enrol Nalsar's 2026 law graduates as advocates. The BCI later withdrew the directive and allowed enrolment while an inquiry was pending, before the Supreme Court struck down its orders entirely.
Why it matters
The ruling protects the right of law students to publicly object to institutional choices without facing enrolment or career consequences from a regulatory body. It also draws a clear boundary on the BCI's statutory reach, limiting its power over student conduct at law universities.
Read the original report — Times of India
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