Justice Nagarathna Urges Bar Council Introspection Amid Professional Ethics Concerns

Supreme Court judge Justice B V Nagarathna stated on Saturday that a Bar Council that fails to earn the respect of its members is not a good sign for the legal profession. Speaking at the 13th convocation of National Law University Delhi, Justice Nagarathna called on both Central and State Bar Councils to introspect on their roles in upholding professional competence, morality, and professional ethics.

These remarks follow a controversy involving the Bar Council of India (BCI) and NALSAR University. On August 13, BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra issued a directive to state Bar Councils not to enroll students from the 2026 NALSAR batch. The BCI later withdrew the circular and closed the proceedings after concluding the students had no role in any disturbance. The incident led to demands for Mishra's resignation, including a letter from BCI co-Chairman Y R Sadasiva Reddy. One report notes that the BCI's action was linked to a student campaign opposing the invitation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as a chief guest.

Justice Nagarathna described lawyers as the safety valves of democracies and an office of trust. She emphasized that the independence of the Bar is not an entitlement for the benefit of lawyers, but a necessity for a constitutional democracy so that professionals can represent clients without seeking permission from the state, the market, or their clients. She warned that any lapses by the Bar could deeply impact political and civic life, urging lawyers to view their work as a public service rather than a trade where legal knowledge is sold by the hour.

Addressing the current state of the justice system, Justice Nagarathna highlighted issues of pendency, delays, and litigation costs. She encouraged the Bar to speak in a singular voice to sustain the justice delivery system and suggested that lawyers who look beyond the legal dispute to the underlying problem become indispensable. She also cautioned against the perils of AI, warning lawyers not to cite fake judgments obtained through AI hallucinations.