India Condemns Disruption of CJI Surya Kant’s London Lecture

• Indian High Commission condemns disruption during CJI Surya Kant’s lecture in London
• Incident occurred during a Q&A session at Birkbeck College
• Organisers stopped questions deemed unrelated to the lecture topic
• CJI spoke on Artificial Intelligence and International Law

GG News Bureau
London/New Delhi, 6th June: The Indian High Commission in London has strongly condemned the disruption of a lecture delivered by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant in the British capital, describing the incident as unacceptable and inconsistent with the principles of respectful engagement.

In an official statement, the High Commission criticised what it termed “indecorous audience behaviour” during the event and stressed that differences of opinion should be expressed in a civil and respectful manner.

The incident occurred during a lecture delivered by CJI Surya Kant at Birkbeck College, London, on June 4. The Chief Justice was speaking on the theme “Artificial Intelligence and International Law.”

During the question-and-answer session that followed, some attendees raised issues relating to alleged suppression of dissent in India and sought to question the Chief Justice over his recent remarks that had sparked controversy in public discourse.

Video clips from the event, which later circulated widely on social media, showed a woman questioning the Chief Justice on issues beyond the scope of the lecture.

Referring to comments made during the lecture, she raised concerns about dissent and democratic freedoms in India. However, the moderator intervened and halted the question, stating that it was unrelated to the topic under discussion.

“With all due respect, I would not be able to take up that question since the topic is concerning artificial intelligence and international law,” the moderator said while cutting short the exchange.

Reacting to the incident, the Indian High Commission said such disruptions were inappropriate and did not reflect the standards expected in academic and public discussions.

The lecture itself focused on the growing impact of artificial intelligence on governance, commerce, warfare, communication, public administration and judicial systems.

Addressing the audience, CJI Surya Kant described artificial intelligence as an operational reality that is transforming institutions and societies across the world.

He stressed that technological advancements must remain accountable to constitutional values, democratic legitimacy and human dignity.

The Chief Justice also highlighted the challenges posed by emerging technologies for international legal frameworks, stating that decisions taken during the current decade would shape the future relationship between technology, freedom, power and justice.

He noted that regulating artificial intelligence represents one of the most important tests facing international law in the modern era.

The High Commission’s response underscores India’s position that public debate and disagreement should be conducted through respectful dialogue, particularly during academic and institutional engagements involving constitutional authorities.