The High Commission of India in London has strongly criticised the disruption that occurred during Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant’s lecture at Birkbeck College, University of London.
In an official statement, the Indian mission described the incident as “indecorous audience behaviour” and said such conduct was inconsistent with the principles of respectful public discussion.
The controversy emerged after video clips from the event went viral on social media. The clips showed an audience member attempting to raise a question about dissent in India during an interactive session following the lecture.
Indian High Commission Reacts
Responding to the incident, the High Commission emphasised that differences of opinion are natural in democratic societies but should be expressed respectfully.
“Such indecorous audience behaviour is unacceptable and inconsistent with respectful engagement that should govern public discourse,” the mission said in its statement.
The High Commission further noted that democratic debate remains important, but discussions should remain civil and constructive.
What Happened During the London Event?
CJI Surya Kant was delivering a lecture titled Artificial Intelligence and International Law during his visit to the United Kingdom.
During the question-and-answer session, an attendee began by referring to India’s democratic record and then attempted to raise concerns about what she described as hostility towards dissent.
Before she could complete her question, an organiser intervened and stopped the interaction.
“With all due respect, I would not be able to take up that question since the topic concerns artificial intelligence and international law,” the organiser said.
The exchange quickly attracted attention online after several users shared video clips from the event.
Focus of CJI Surya Kant’s Lecture
During his address, CJI Surya Kant spoke extensively about the challenges and opportunities created by artificial intelligence.
He stressed that technology itself is neither inherently good nor bad. Instead, its impact depends on the legal, political and ethical frameworks established by societies.
According to the Chief Justice, the responsibility of law is to ensure that technological advancement remains accountable to constitutional values, democratic legitimacy and human dignity.
He also highlighted that artificial intelligence represents one of the biggest tests for international law in the modern era.
“The central challenge before us is to ensure that humanity retains authorship of the principles by which it is governed,” he said.
Growing Debate Online
The incident has triggered debate on social media, with users expressing differing views on whether the question should have been allowed during the event.
Supporters of the organiser argued that the lecture was focused specifically on artificial intelligence and international law. Others felt broader questions relating to democracy and dissent should have been permitted during the interactive session.
Despite the differing opinions, the Indian High Commission reiterated the importance of maintaining respectful and civil engagement during public discussions.
CJI Surya Kant is currently on a six-day visit to the United Kingdom, where he is participating in discussions on law, technology and global governance.
