A fresh storm has erupted within Bar Council of India (BCI) after its co‑chairman, senior advocate YR Sadasiva Reddy, issued a letter demanding the resignation of Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra within 15 days. The demand for Mishra’s resignation was also formally raised during a General Council meeting held at the BCI office on Saturday, August 22.
These calls for Mishra’s ouster come amid a petition in Supreme Court of India questioning the legality of his prolonged tenure, which has stretched beyond a decade despite rules prescribing a two‑year limit. Mishra, however, denied any wrongdoing and described the demands for his resignation as “baseless” and “politically motivated”.
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Mishra is currently a member of Rajya Sabha from Bihar, having been elected unopposed in August 2024 as the BJP candidate in a by-election necessitated by the election of Misa Bharti to Lok Sabha.
At BCI’s a General Council meeting, its member Manoj Kumar Narendran, from Kerala, directly called for Mishra’s resignation as chairman of the regulatory body. His demand was supported by another BCI member from Uttar Pradesh, advocate Srinath Tripathi, reported Live Law.
In a six‑page communication addressed to Mishra at BCI’s Rouse Avenue office in New Delhi, co‑chairman YR Sadasiva Reddy outlined eight separate grounds for seeking the chairman’s resignation. He accused Mishra of treating the statutory body “like a personal estate” and also alleged diversion of ₹150 crore from the historic BCI Trust into a new entity, BCI Trust PEARL‑First, registered in 2020 with trustees of Mishra’s choosing. Reddy claimed objections raised by him and other members were brushed aside when the transfer was approved.
Reddy’s letter also alleges nepotism in staff appointments, stating that a “striking proportion” of employees are connected to Mishra’s family, with no advertisements or merit lists ever placed before the Council. Reddy further charged that law colleges seeking approval or renewal were compelled to make large “contributions,” undermining the regulator’s credibility.
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The controversy is the second one to involve BCI in quick succession after its recent directive barring NALSAR University of Law’s 2026 graduating batch from enrolment as lawyers, a move widely condemned as disproportionate and later withdrawn. Reddy described the episode as “sufficient ground by itself” for Mishra to step down, noting that the order was issued without consultation or resolution of the council.
Other allegations include encouraging factionalism in state bar councils, issuing orders without notice, and continuing in office since 2012 in violation of rotation norms. Reddy said the cumulative effect has been a “loss of confidence” among advocates, pointing to protests outside the BCI office and student bodies refusing to share platforms with the chairman.
The co‑chairman’s letter sets out five demands: Mishra’s resignation within 15 days, a special meeting of the council to deliberate on the charges, an independent audit of BCI and trust accounts, a ban on contributions from law colleges, and publication of staffing details on the Council’s website.
Reddy insisted the move was not personal, writing that he held no animosity but could not remain silent in the face of what he described as “dereliction of trust.” He urged Mishra to “stand down of your own accord” to preserve the Council’s credibility.
The petition filed in Supreme Court of India by lawyer Yogamaya M.G. has added judicial scrutiny to the crisis, challenging Mishra’s continuation in office and citing violations of BCI rules. With the leadership dispute intensifying, the future of BCI now hinges on whether Mishra responds to the resignation call or awaits the Court’s verdict.
The unfolding confrontation has placed India’s apex regulatory body for the legal profession under rare public spotlight, raising questions about governance, accountability, and the balance of power within the institution.
