Supreme Court Raps BCI, Says It Has ‘No Statutory Power To Discipline Law Students’ | NALSAR Row

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Bar Council of India has no statutory power to discipline law students or direct universities to take action against them. The court quashed the BCI’s communications concerning NALSAR University of Law students, holding them to be issued without jurisdiction. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant said disciplinary control over law students rests exclusively with the university or educational institution. The court clarified that while the BCI can prescribe and enforce standards of legal education and examine statutory eligibility when a graduate seeks enrolment as an advocate, it cannot impose disciplinary action on students before enrolment. The ruling followed the BCI’s intervention over protests by NALSAR students regarding the invitation to the CJI as chief guest at their convocation.