Supreme Court: Bar Councils Cannot Discipline Law Students

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the Bar Council of India and State Bar Councils lack statutory authority to discipline law students, with such power only arising after enrolment as advocates. The court declared BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra's August 13 directions against NALSAR University students and faculty, which were withdrawn after backlash, as bad in law. Disciplinary control over students rests solely with their parent institution. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, disposed of the petition filed by alumni Mihira Sood and Abhishek Tiwari, making its interim protection order absolute. The court stated the Advocates Act, 1961 confers no express or implied disciplinary power over law students.