Archive · 22 Aug 2026
BCI Chief Rejects Resignation Calls Amid NALSAR Protest Dispute
Some lawyers protested outside the Bar Council of India office.
They wanted its chairman, Manan Kumar Mishra, to resign and wanted changes in the council.
The protest began after an order briefly stopped students from NALSAR’s 2026 graduating class from enrolling as lawyers.
Mishra said the order was cancelled after about 15 minutes.
He said he would not resign because he was elected by representatives of lawyers.
He also accused political groups of using the disagreement for their own purposes.
Some protesters said political groups should not take over their movement.
Videos appeared to show arguments and physical clashes near the protest, with police present.
BCI chairman and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Manan Kumar Mishra rejected demands for his resignation after protests in Delhi.
Lawyers led by the All India Young Advocates Association sought Mishra’s resignation and reforms at the Bar Council of India.
The protest followed a directive temporarily halting enrolment of NALSAR University of Law’s 2026 graduating batch.
Mishra said the directive was withdrawn within 15 minutes after students’ grievances were heard.
Mishra called the campaign politically motivated, while videos appeared to show clashes between protesting and other lawyers outside the BCI office.
- Who
- BCI chairman and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Manan Kumar Mishra, protesting lawyers led by the All India Young Advocates Association, and political groups identified as the Cockroach Janta Party and Aam Aadmi Party.
- What
- Mishra rejected resignation demands, defended a briefly enforced directive affecting NALSAR’s 2026 graduating batch, and accused political groups of exploiting the dispute.
- When
- Lawyers protested on Thursday, and Mishra responded during a media interaction on Friday.
- Where
- The protest took place outside the Bar Council of India office in New Delhi; Mishra also referred to an incident in Rajasthan.
- Why
- Lawyers protested over the NALSAR directive and other concerns involving the legal fraternity, seeking Mishra’s resignation and reforms to the BCI.
Protesting lawyers and critics
Manan Mishra and BCI supporters
Resignation and institutional reform
Protesting lawyers and critics
Lawyers led by the All India Young Advocates Association demanded Mishra’s resignation and an overhaul of the Bar Council of India.
Manan Mishra and BCI supporters
Mishra rejected the demands, saying he was elected and that critics should challenge him through bar council elections rather than social-media campaigns.
NALSAR directive
Protesting lawyers and critics
The directive temporarily stopping enrolment of NALSAR’s 2026 graduating batch triggered outrage among lawyers and students.
Manan Mishra and BCI supporters
Mishra defended issuing the directive, saying he objected to opposition to inviting Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as convocation chief guest, and emphasized that it was withdrawn within 15 minutes.
Political involvement
Protesting lawyers and critics
Some protesters said they welcomed public support from the Cockroach Janta Party but did not want it to intervene in or participate in their agitation.
Manan Mishra and BCI supporters
Mishra alleged that CJP supporters were involved in the protest and said the Aam Aadmi Party and CJP were using the NALSAR controversy for political purposes.
- BCI chairman
- Manan Kumar Mishra
- Protesting organization
- All India Young Advocates Association
- Lawyers represented
- Mishra said the BCI represents around 25 lakh lawyers across India.
- Main dispute
- A directive temporarily halted enrolment of NALSAR University of Law’s 2026 graduating batch as advocates.
- Directive status
- Mishra said the directive was withdrawn within 15 minutes.
- Mishra’s tenure claim
- He said he had been elected BCI chairman seven times and had led the council for 12 to 14 years.
- Reported confrontation
- Videos appeared to show protesting lawyers being kicked and shoved by other lawyers in the presence of police.
