August 22, 2026: A serious internal dispute has erupted within the Bar Council of India, with its co-chairman and senior advocate YR Sadasiva Reddy demanding the immediate resignation of BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra and accusing him of financial irregularities, nepotism and misuse of the statutory body’s powers.
In a strongly worded letter written in what Reddy described as “considerable anguish”, the senior advocate said he could no longer remain silent over what he portrayed as serious lapses in the functioning of the country’s apex statutory body for legal professionals. He said silence in the face of such allegations would amount to failing in the responsibility entrusted to him by advocates across India.
Reddy accused Mishra of running the Bar Council as though it were a personal institution rather than a public body accountable to the legal fraternity. He called for Mishra to step down and said the allegations warranted serious scrutiny.
Allegations over BCI funds
One of the most serious allegations in the letter concerns the handling of BCI funds and the creation of a new trust.
Reddy alleged that the Bar Council of India Trust was allowed to become defunct and was subsequently replaced by an organisation named BCI Trust PEARL First, which was registered in September 2020. According to him, the trustees of the new entity were selected by Mishra.
He further alleged that a proposal was subsequently brought before the council to transfer around ₹150 crore of BCI funds to the newly created trust. Reddy said he and other members objected to the move but their concerns were overridden.
The allegations, if established, could raise questions over the manner in which funds belonging to the statutory body were being managed and whether adequate institutional safeguards were followed before such a large transfer was proposed.
Questions over law college fees
Reddy also questioned the BCI’s dealings with law colleges seeking approval or renewal of recognition.
He alleged that institutions were required to pay substantial sums to obtain or renew BCI recognition. The senior advocate argued that such a financial arrangement creates a fundamental conflict for a regulator that exercises oversight over the institutions from which it receives money.
According to Reddy, the practice has compromised the credibility of the regulatory mechanism and undermined the authority of the BCI.
Nepotism allegations
The letter also levelled allegations of favouritism in appointments within the Bar Council.
Reddy claimed that a significant number of BCI employees have personal or family connections with Mishra. He questioned the recruitment process and alleged that details such as job advertisements, selection procedures and merit lists were not placed before the council for approval or scrutiny.
He described the alleged pattern of appointments as evidence of nepotism and argued that recruitment to a statutory institution must be transparent and based on clearly demonstrable merit.
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Supreme Court challenge to Mishra’s tenure
The demand for Mishra’s resignation comes at a time when his tenure as BCI chairman is already under challenge before the Supreme Court.
Lawyer Yogamaya MG has filed a petition questioning Mishra’s continued occupation of the post, arguing that his uninterrupted tenure of more than a decade is inconsistent with the rules governing the BCI chairman’s term.
The petition contends that the applicable rules prescribe a two-year term for the chairman and raises questions over how Mishra has continued in the position for such an extended period.
The developments have brought renewed attention to the functioning, accountability and governance of the Bar Council of India, which plays a central role in regulating legal education and the legal profession in the country.
The allegations made by Reddy are, however, claims contained in his letter and would require independent examination and verification. The dispute is likely to place greater scrutiny on the BCI’s financial administration, recruitment practices and leadership structure.
