New Delhi: The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the Bar Council of India and state bar councils possess no statutory jurisdiction under the Advocates Act, 1961, to govern or discipline law students. A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana affirmed that disciplinary oversight over students rests strictly with their parent universities and academic institutions.
The ruling arose from a controversy involving students at Hyderabad’s NALSAR University of Law, who had expressed reservations regarding CJI Surya Kant’s proposed attendance as chief guest at their annual convocation. In response, the BCI had issued notifications directing state bar councils to withhold the enrolment of NALSAR’s 2026 graduating class until further notice and ordered an internal inquiry. Although the regulatory body rescinded the directives within hours following strong legal pushback, the top court formally quashed the communications as devoid of legal authority while disposing of a petition moved by NALSAR alumni Mihira Sood and Abhishek Tiwari.
Delivering the order, the bench highlighted that statutory disciplinary power under the Advocates Act is triggered only after a law graduate formally enrols as an advocate. CJI Kant reiterated that the BCI’s mandate covers the conduct of enrolled legal professionals rather than students, noting that universities operate under their own independent by-laws to address campus conduct. The Chief Justice had previously voiced strong disapproval over the regulator’s interference, observing that discourse between students and visiting dignitaries was not a matter for the bar council to police.
