No authority to act against law students; SC against bar council on NALSAR University row

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court ruled that the Bar Council of India (BCI) does not have the authority to take disciplinary action against law students. The court said the university and the institution have the authority to do so, but not the Bar Council. The BCI cannot prevent enrollment as lawyers, a bench comprising Chief Justice Suryakant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana said. The BCI can take disciplinary action if law students commit misconduct after becoming lawyers.

The BCI had stopped law students from enrolling at Hyderabad's Nalsar University after students called for a boycott of the Chief Justice. The Bar Council later withdrew the order. In this context, the court disposed of the petitions.

The Supreme Court has refused to intervene in a petition alleging that a group of lawyers were attacked during a protest demanding the resignation of Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra. The petitioner was directed to approach the Delhi High Court.

On August 21, a group of lawyers had protested in front of the BCI headquarters. The petition demanded that the investigation into the alleged attack be handed over to the CBI.