BCI Co-Chair Demands Chairman Mishra’s Resignation

Y.R. Sadashiva Reddy, co-chairman of the Bar Council of India (BCI), has called for the immediate resignation of BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra. This demand, outlined in a letter dated August 22, 2026, cites eight specific grounds against Mishra’s leadership.

Reddy’s allegations encompass a range of issues, from alleged irregularities in appointments and the diversion of Council funds to questionable financial dealings with various law colleges. He argues these actions have significantly damaged the BCI’s reputation and undermined its regulatory authority.

Concerns Over Fund Management and Trust Operations

A major point of contention involves the transfer of Rs 150 crore from the BCI to a newly established trust named ‘PEARL-First’. Reddy questioned the necessity of this transfer, especially given the existence of an older trust already serving the Council.

• Rs 150 crore was transferred from BCI to ‘PEARL-First’.
• Law colleges seeking BCI approval or renewal were allegedly asked to contribute between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 1 crore to PEARL-First.

Allegations of Procedural Lapses and Controversial Decisions

Reddy also highlighted concerns regarding appointments within the BCI, alleging they were made without standard procedures such as public advertisements or selection committee proceedings. Many newly appointed employees were reportedly connected to Chairman Mishra or his family.

The handling of the Nalsar University of Law controversy also drew sharp criticism. The BCI chairman’s office allegedly threatened to exclude the 2026 graduating batch from enrolment after students objected to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant being invited as their convocation chief guest.

This decision, according to Reddy, was made without prior deliberation by the full BCI, causing substantial damage to the Council’s standing. He further noted factionalism within State Bar Councils and questioned Mishra’s extended tenure, which began in 2012 and included re-election in 2025.

In response to these grave concerns, Reddy has called for a comprehensive independent inquiry, a special meeting of the Bar Council, and a special audit. This audit, he specified, should be conducted on both the BCI and PEARL-First by a firm empanelled with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). Reddy asserted that the widespread repudiation of the BCI leadership by the legal profession, students, and courts makes Mishra’s continued presence a matter of institutional survival.