Supreme Court: Bar Council has no power to discipline law students

The Supreme Court ruled that the Bar Council of India has no statutory power to discipline law students, quashing its communications against NALSAR University students. The court stated that disciplinary control rests exclusively with the educational institution where students are enrolled. The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, held that the Advocates Act, 1961, grants the BCI no express or implied authority for student disciplinary action. While the Council can prescribe legal education standards, it cannot take punitive measures against students, the court declared. The ruling stemmed from BCI chairman Manan Mishra's initial directive to bar councils not to enrol NALSAR's 2026 graduating batch over a protest. Mishra later withdrew the freeze, closed proceedings, and apologised to the students.