Supreme Court: Bar Council Cannot Discipline Law Students
Supreme Court rules BCI has no jurisdiction to punish law students; disciplinary powers limited to registered advocates.
The Supreme Court of India has ruled that the Bar Council of India (BCI) lacks the jurisdiction to initiate disciplinary or punitive action against law students. The court clarified that the BCI's disciplinary powers, derived from the Advocates Act, 1961, extend only to advocates who are duly registered with the council.
The ruling came in response to a petition filed by two former graduates of NALSAR University of Law. The petitioners had sought legal recourse against the BCI and its chairperson, Manan Kumar Mishra, over a proposed move to block the professional enrolment of the 2026 batch of students. This action was reportedly linked to the students' objection to the Chief Justice of India being invited as the chief guest for their convocation ceremony.
The petitioners argued that the BCI's communications had a chilling effect on students' freedom of speech, expression, and association. During the proceedings, Mishra, appearing in court, stated that the letters issued to NALSAR and the state bar councils—which directed an inquiry against the students and suggested penalising them by barring enrolment—were withdrawn immediately.
He contended that there was no remaining cause for action. The court, however, declared the letters obsolete and affirmed that the BCI's authority does not cover students who have not yet been enrolled as advocates.