The Indian High Commission in London has strongly criticised the disruption of a lecture delivered by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant at Birkbeck College in London. The High Commission described the incident as inappropriate and stressed that disagreements should always be expressed respectfully.

Justice Surya Kant delivered a lecture on June 4 on the topic 'Artificial Intelligence and International Law'. During the question-and-answer session that followed the lecture, a few attendees attempted to raise issues unrelated to the subject being discussed. They questioned the Chief Justice on concerns regarding the alleged suppression of dissent in India and also referred to his recent “cockroach” remark.

The organisers intervened and stopped the attendees from continuing their questions. They stated that the issues being raised were outside the scope of the event, which was focused on artificial intelligence and international law. Videos of the exchange later surfaced on social media and quickly gained attention online.

In one of the videos, a woman from the audience referred to points made by the Chief Justice during his lecture. She said, "His Lordship made some very important points, I think, about the Indian track record of protecting democracy in the context of AI."

She then attempted to raise concerns about dissent in India. The woman said, "We now hear from a number of legal observers within the country as well as internationally that there's a great deal of concern about growing hostility to dissent within India. And it does seem that this hostility is somewhat reflected in His Lordship's speech and it's very well publicised."

Before she could continue, the moderator interrupted and informed her that the question was not related to the subject of the lecture. The moderator said, "With all due respect, I'm so sorry, I would not be able to take up that question since the topic is concerning artificial intelligence and international law. So sorry. I'm extremely sorry, I'm extremely sorry. We'll have to cut it off."

Following the incident, the Indian High Commission in London issued an official statement condemning the disruption. The statement described the interruption as "indecorous audience behaviour" and said it was "unacceptable and inconsistent with respectful engagement". The High Commission also emphasised that differences of opinion should be expressed in a civil and respectful manner.

During his lecture, Chief Justice Surya Kant spoke extensively about the growing influence of artificial intelligence in different areas of modern life. He described AI as an operational reality that is transforming governance, commerce, warfare, communication, public administration, and the exercise of judicial and sovereign power.

The Chief Justice highlighted the need for technological advancements to remain accountable to constitutional principles, democratic values, and human dignity. He stressed that as AI continues to evolve, its development and use must be guided by ethical and legal safeguards.

Justice Surya Kant also noted that decisions taken during the present decade would play a crucial role in shaping the future relationship between technology, power, freedom, and justice. According to him, managing this relationship is one of the most significant challenges facing international law in its modern evolution.

The lecture focused on the legal and global implications of artificial intelligence and the responsibilities of governments and institutions in regulating emerging technologies. While the event was intended to address these issues, the question-and-answer session drew attention after some audience members attempted to shift the discussion towards domestic political concerns.

The organisers maintained that the questions did not relate to the topic under discussion and therefore chose not to allow them. The incident has since sparked discussion online, while the Indian High Commission has reiterated the importance of maintaining respectful and relevant engagement during academic and public events.