Supreme Court: Bar Council has no power to regulate law students' conduct

The Supreme Court ruled that the Bar Council of India lacks statutory authority to regulate law students' conduct, stating educational institutions must handle such matters under their own rules. The decision set aside two BCI notifications related to NALSAR University students. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, clarified the BCI cannot control students before they become advocates. The notifications, issued after a student campaign against the CJI's proposed convocation visit, were withdrawn hours later following criticism. The controversy began August 14 when BCI directed state councils not to enrol NALSAR's 2026 graduates over the campaign. The CJI had earlier disapproved of BCI's interference, calling it "totally uncalled for" in a dialogue between students and himself.