Supreme Court Rules Bar Council Cannot Discipline Law Students

The Supreme Court ruled that the Bar Council of India has no statutory power to discipline law students or direct universities to act against them, quashing its communications in the NALSAR case as issued without jurisdiction. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant held that disciplinary control over law students rests exclusively with their university or institution. The BCI may prescribe legal education standards and check eligibility at enrolment, but cannot impose pre-enrolment disciplinary action. The ruling stemmed from BCI intervention after NALSAR students protested the invitation of the CJI as chief guest at their convocation. The decision clarifies the limits of BCI authority over students before they seek advocate enrolment.