THE HINDU DATED 4th SEP 2026

Summary of Important News Items and Editorials- 305

THE HINDU DATED 4th SEP 2026

(for reading HINDU News items from 1 to 304 please visit –

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1. Supreme Court: Bar Council has no power to punish law students

The Supreme Court held that the Bar Council of India (BCI) and State Bar Councils have no jurisdiction to discipline or punish law students, sharply limiting the regulatory body's authority. The case arose from BCI notices to NALSAR students following protests against its chairman. The Court observed that the Advocates Act, 1961 confers disciplinary authority over enrolled advocates, not students who are yet to enter the profession. It therefore criticised attempts to intimidate students through letters threatening action and directed the BCI to withdraw the communication. The judgment also reinforces freedom of speech, expression and association, particularly within universities. The underlying constitutional logic is that a statutory regulator cannot exercise powers that Parliament has not granted merely because students may eventually become advocates. Regulatory authority must remain within legislative boundaries. The ruling consequently combines administrative-law principles with civil liberties: professional regulation is legitimate, but jurisdiction cannot be expanded to suppress criticism or peaceful student dissent.

2. India-Belgium defence partnership and expanding strategic ties