1 week ago
Resignation Demands Intensify Against Bar Council Chairman Mishra
Two senior members of the Bar Council of India want its chairman, Manan Kumar Mishra, to resign.
They say the council needs better leadership and should work more democratically.
They criticized an order telling state Bar councils not to enroll students from NALSAR’s graduating batch.
The order followed a campaign by about 450 students over an invitation to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
The order was withdrawn within hours.
The members say the order was issued without proper discussion or approval by the council.
They also questioned a trust called BCI Trust PEARL First and a proposed transfer of Rs 150 crore in council funds.
Reddy further alleged that family members were appointed to council positions without a transparent process and that law colleges were pressured to contribute to the trust.
Mishra says the accusations are false, baseless, and legally meaningless, and that the council is transparent.
BCI Vice-Chairman Manoj Kumar N and Co-Chairman Y R Sadasiva Reddy demanded Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra’s resignation.
The demands were made at a Delhi General Council meeting and in letters to Mishra, with Reddy calling for resignation within 15 days.
Reddy alleged that a proposed transfer of Rs 150 crore in BCI funds to BCI Trust PEARL First lacked proper authorization.
The members criticized an August 13, 2026 directive targeting NALSAR’s graduating batch, which was withdrawn within hours.
Mishra rejected the allegations as false and baseless and said the BCI’s functioning was transparent.
- Who
- BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, Vice-Chairman Manoj Kumar N, Co-Chairman Y R Sadasiva Reddy, and other BCI members.
- What
- Senior BCI members demanded Mishra’s resignation and called for institutional changes, a special meeting, and independent audits.
- Where
- The General Council meeting was held at the BCI office in New Delhi; the dispute also involves NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad.
- When
- The demands were reported on Saturday; Reddy’s letter was dated August 22, and the NALSAR directive was issued on August 13, 2026 and withdrawn within hours.
- Why
- The members cited concerns about BCI governance, the NALSAR directive, the proposed handling of council funds, alleged appointments, and declining confidence in the institution.
Resignation supporters
Mishra’s response
Leadership and governance
Resignation supporters
Kumar and Reddy said Mishra should resign to enable institutional renewal and restore the BCI’s democratic, independent, representative, and legally compliant functioning.
Mishra’s response
Mishra rejected the allegations, described them as false and baseless, and said the BCI’s functioning was transparent.
NALSAR directive
Resignation supporters
The members said the August 13 directive was issued without material being placed before the BCI or a council resolution authorizing it, and argued that peaceful disagreement should not threaten students’ future legal careers.
Mishra’s response
Mishra withdrew the directive within hours after concluding that the students had no role in any disturbance or movement.
BCI Trust PEARL First
Resignation supporters
Reddy alleged that trustees were handpicked by Mishra, that a resolution proposed transferring Rs 150 crore in BCI funds to the private trust, and that council members were not given adequate information. He also sought an independent audit.
Mishra’s response
Mishra denied the allegations generally and said they had no value in the eyes of law.
Appointments and college contributions
Resignation supporters
Reddy alleged that Mishra-connected people, including family members, received council positions without transparent selection procedures, and that law colleges seeking approval or renewal were pressured for trust contributions.
Mishra’s response
Mishra called the allegations false and baseless; the articles do not report a detailed response from him to each specific claim.
Key facts
- BCI chairman
- Manan Kumar Mishra
- Resignation proponents
- Manoj Kumar N and Y R Sadasiva Reddy
- Reddy’s deadline
- His letter called for Mishra’s resignation within 15 days, while also describing resignation as an immediate course of action.
- NALSAR directive
- Issued on August 13, 2026, directing state Bar councils not to enroll the graduating batch; withdrawn within hours
- Student campaign
- About 450 NALSAR students opposed inviting Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to the university convocation.
- Trust allegation
- Reddy alleged that a resolution proposed transferring Rs 150 crore in BCI funds to BCI Trust PEARL First, registered on September 17, 2020.
- Additional allegations
- Reddy alleged non-transparent appointments involving Mishra’s family members and demands for contributions from law colleges; these claims were not independently established in the articles.
- Mishra’s response
- Mishra called the allegations false and baseless, questioned Reddy’s position, and said the BCI’s functioning was transparent.
Quotes
Y R Sadasiva Reddy
BCI Co-Chairman and Senior Advocate
“He (Reddy) is not the Co-Chairman. He is not even a member of the State Bar Council. While he was a member of BCI, he was opposed to me, tried to contest against me, but couldn’t get even a proposer. Politically, he is also opposed to me. Everything is transparent here. He has made all false and baseless allegations after getting ousted from the Bar Council.”
indianexpress.com
“I demanded that the Chairman resign from his post forthwith. Advocate Srinath Tripathi, Member of BCI (from Uttar Pradesh), supported my demand. Reddy, who has written a letter separately to Mishra seeking his resignation, was not present at the meeting.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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