Supreme Court asks Prashant Bhushan to approach Delhi High Court in case of lawyers beaten at BCI premises

Lawyers stage a protest against the Chairman of Bar Council of India outside BCI office in New Delhi | Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap The Supreme Court granted liberty to advocate Prashant Bhushan on Thursday (September 3, 2026) to approach the Delhi High Court seeking relief for young lawyers who were beaten up while protesting at the Bar Council of India (BCI) premises on August 21.A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant was informed by advocate Prashant Bhushan that he had come directly to the apex court as several petitions connected to the BCI is being heard by the court.Mr. Bhushan, in an oral mentioning, alleged BCI chairperson, senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, had later on referred to the protesting lawyers as “legal cockroaches” who were dealt with by “our lawyers”.Mr. Bhushan sought a CBI probe into the affair.Justice Joymalya Bagchi said though lawyers have a right to protest, the legal fraternity was still a disciplined community, which had multiple fora to present their grievances.Mr. Bhushan said nobody however had a right to beat up anyone. The protesting lawyers were mostly in their twenties, he said.The senior lawyer said he would comply with whatever the apex court thought best.Chief Justice Kant observed that it would be more opportune if the petition was filed in the High Court first. Published - September 03, 2026 11:46 am IST