The CJI’s speech came amid a surge of student activism across Indian campuses, with several protests clashing with police in recent weeks.
A female student from CNLU asked why the police had responded harshly to peaceful demonstrations, specifically citing the Jantar Mantar protests that drew nationwide attention.
Surya Kant answered, "Courts will not look the other way when faced with alleged brutal repression by the police," and reiterated that the judiciary is committed to safeguarding students’ fundamental right to protest.
He also addressed a query about collegium disclosures, warning that transparency can’t compromise personal dignity, and praised a proposal by Vice‑Chancellor Faizan Mustafa to compress the five‑year law degree into four years with a mandatory court apprenticeship.
The visit was attended by Patna High Court Chief Justice V. Kameswar Rao, and follows recent opposition at NALSAR and NLSIU, where students plan to file petitions seeking judicial review of police conduct. The Supreme Court is expected to weigh in on these matters in the coming months, potentially reshaping the legal framework for campus protests.