Supreme Court rules that BCI has no power to punish law students - The Hindu

**Supreme Court Bars Bar Council of India from Disciplining Law Students**

New Delhi – In a decisive verdict delivered on Monday, the Supreme Court held that the Bar Council of India (BCI) has no statutory authority to punish law students, curbing the body’s attempt to intervene in disciplinary matters at the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR). The bench, comprising Justices U.U. Lalit and S. Ravindra Bhat, observed that the BCI’s governing statutes confer power only over “advocates” and “persons enrolled as advocates,” not over individuals enrolled in law schools. Accordingly, the court dismissed the BCI’s petition seeking to compel NALSAR University to impose sanctions on a group of students who had allegedly flouted university regulations during a campus protest.

The controversy arose when the BCI, citing concerns over “professional misconduct,” issued a notice to NALSAR demanding punitive action against ten students who participated in a demonstration over the appointment of a senior faculty member. NALSAR, maintaining that the protest was a legitimate exercise of academic freedom, refused to impose the harsh penalties suggested by the council. The matter escalated to the High Court, which referred the question of the BCI’s jurisdiction to the apex court. In its ruling, the Supreme Court underscored the principle of separation of powers, stating that any disciplinary regime for law students must be rooted in legislation passed by Parliament, not in the self‑regulatory framework of the BCI.

Legal scholars and student bodies welcomed the judgment as a reaffirmation of constitutional safeguards and academic autonomy. The Indian Law Students’ Association issued a statement calling the decision “a victory for democratic dissent and the right to free expression in educational institutions.” The BCI, through its chairman, expressed disappointment but pledged to respect the court’s order while seeking legislative clarification on its role. Observers note that the ruling may prompt a review of the BCI’s statutes, potentially reshaping the regulatory landscape for legal education in India.