CJI, Nalsar students have one query for BCI: ‘Who are you?’

The Supreme Court on Friday expressed strong disapproval of the Bar Council of India (BCI) for threatening to deny license to practice to NALSAR University students who opposed Supreme Court Chief Justice Surya Kant as their convocation chief guest. The bench, led by CJI Surya Kant, described the actions of the BCI as "absolutely uncalled for" and emphasized that the students had a right to peaceful protest and freedom of speech.

The court urged the protesting students to obtain their licenses to practice at the earliest and begin their careers at the Supreme Court. CJI Kant also pledged to empanel the students and offer them legal aid cases, stating that this would be their response to those who wanted to impede their professional careers. The court asked the Bar Council of India and all state bar councils to refrain from taking any coercive or punitive action against the students and faculty, and requested a counter-affidavit from BCI within two weeks.