SC: BCI writ runs only over lawyers, not law students
The Supreme Court of India ruled that the Bar Council of India (BCI) lacks the authority to discipline or regulate law students. The court quashed BCI threats against Nalsar University students, stating that the BCI's jurisdiction only begins after a student registers as an advocate.
Why it matters
This decision protects the autonomy of educational institutions and limits the reach of professional regulatory bodies over students' freedom of speech.
NEW DELHI: Supreme Court Thursday ruled that Bar Council of India has no jurisdiction to discipline or regulate law students and quashed its letters threatening to debar Nalsar University law graduates from registering as advocates for opposing an invitation to CJI Surya Kant as chief guest at the institute's annual convocation.Despite BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra pleading for closure of the issue saying that the objectionable letters to the Hyderabad institute on Aug 13 were withdrawn within hours, a bench of CJI Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said the ambit of BCI's powers, as the statutory regulatory body for the legal profession, is required to be delineated."From an in-depth consideration of the issue, we are of the opinion that Advocates Act, 1961, whereunder BCI is statutorily created, does not confer any express or implied power on BCI or state bar councils to take any disciplinary or punitive…
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