The legal community is witnessing a major internal crisis as the Co-Chairman of the Bar Council of India (BCI), Senior Advocate Y.R. Sadasiva Reddy, has formally demanded the immediate resignation of Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra. In a detailed letter addressed to Mishra, the Co-Chairman stated that the legal fraternity deserves better leadership and called on the sitting chief to step down within fifteen days to safeguard the dignity and credibility of the regulatory body.
Reddy clarified that his letter was not motivated by personal animosity but arose from a duty toward the legal fraternity and his three decades in the profession. Emphasizing that the Bar Council of India is a statutory body established under the Advocates Act, 1961, Reddy maintained that the Council is meant to serve the nation's advocates as a public trust rather than functioning as anyone's personal estate.
A central issue raised in the communication is the alleged financial mismanagement within the Council, including the purported diversion of around ₹150 crore in regulatory funds into a separate trust. Serious concerns were also highlighted regarding non-transparent recruitment practices and the alleged appointment of favored associates and family members to Council positions without standard selection procedures or merit-based notifications.
Governance surrounding educational institutions was also called into question, with allegations that law colleges seeking mandatory approvals or renewals have faced heavy contribution demands. The letter emphasized that regulatory and approval mandates under law must never be treated as avenues for aggressive fundraising.
The leadership dispute further escalated in the wake of a recent directive issued against law graduates from NALSAR University, which sought to halt their bar enrollments before being quickly withdrawn. Reddy argued that using regulatory authority to target graduating students over expressed opinions inflicted severe reputational damage on the standing of the apex bar regulator.
Beyond administrative and financial complaints, the prolonged continuation of Mishra at the helm for roughly fourteen years was raised as a systemic issue. Reddy noted that such indefinite tenure undermines statutory provisions intended to limit leadership terms, creating organizational stagnation and fostering regional factions within state bar bodies.
To address the situation, the Co-Chairman has demanded an immediate special meeting of the Council along with a comprehensive independent audit of all related accounts by an empanelled auditing firm. He further urged an immediate halt to institutional donation collections and insisted on making the Council's staffing details publicly visible.
Chairman Mishra, however, has dismissed calls for his resignation, asserting that an institution representing millions of legal professionals cannot be swayed by external pressure campaigns. With legal associations, student bodies, and Council representatives joining the debate, the demand for structural transparency and accountability marks a pivotal moment for the future administration of the Indian Bar.