The Bar Council Of India Is Playing Politics
The Supreme Court has had to rap the Bar Council of India (BCI) on the knuckles on two consecutive days. The Council and its office-bearers have only themselves to blame. What is particularly disturbing is the impression that, in its eagerness to please those in power, the BCI has forgotten the limits of its own authority. An institution meant to safeguard the independence and dignity of the…
The Supreme Court has reprimanded the Bar Council of India (BCI) twice in a row for its actions. Both instances reveal the Council's overreach of authority and its willingness to please those in power at the expense of the legal profession's independence and dignity. The National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad, provides a prime example.
Its students protested Chief Justice of India Surya Kant's invitation to deliver the convocation address due to his controversial remarks. While their protest may have been misguided, it was legitimate for students to voice their disagreement. The BCI, however, demanded disciplinary action and even tried to hinder the students' path to becoming advocates.
The Court emphasized that the BCI's disciplinary power only kicks in after a student becomes an advocate. Intriguingly, the BCI chairman, a BJP leader, took punitive measures against the students, despite Chief Justice Surya Kant having no intention to do so. The Court's orders also highlight a broader issue: political affiliations can undermine professional institutions' credibility.
The future of the legal profession depends on students who will challenge governments, defend unpopular citizens, and safeguard constitutional freedoms. If an institution like the BCI attempts to silence them now, it risks undermining the very profession it is entrusted with protecting.
Written by urgent.news from Free Press Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
