BCI has no power to take action against law students: SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday observed that the Bar Council of India (BCI) has neither express nor implied power to take disciplinary action against students pursuing legal education.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana made the observation while hearing a plea concerning BCI's now-withdrawn decision to bar enrolment of students from NALSAR Hyderabad's 2026 batch over their campaign against the CJI.

"Such power is vested in the university or educational institution in which the students are enrolled. The Bar Council of India may prescribe and enforce standards of legal education in accordance with the statutory provisions and applicable regulations. It cannot, however, take disciplinary action against a law student," the bench said.


CJI Kant said BCI can exercise its powers over a law graduate only after the person has enrolled with the statutory body.

"As far as the conduct of law students is concerned, the Bar Council of India has neither jurisdiction nor statutory competence. That falls exclusively within the domain of the educational institution or university. There cannot be any dispute about that," CJI Kant verbally remarked. He added BCI comes into the picture only after a student graduates and registers as an advocate.