India, Aug. 14 -- Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Friday came down heavily on the Bar Council of India (BCI) over its intervention in the NALSAR University of Law enrolment controversy, saying the Council had "no business" interfering with students' right to protest and making it clear that the court would not allow students to be stopped from raising their voice through lawful and peaceful protests. He restrained the BCI and all state bar councils from pursuing any punitive or criminal action against students and faculty of any national law university or university in connection with the row.

The CJI's observations came hours after BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra announced that the Council had decided to close its proceedings...