Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman and Senior Advocate Manan Kumar Mishra has rejected allegations levelled against him by BCI member YR Sadasiva Reddy, who has demanded his resignation, describing the charges as “baseless” and politically motivated.
Manan Mishra disputed Reddy’s claim to be a BCI co-chairman, asserting that Reddy is no longer a member of the Karnataka State Bar Council after not contesting its recent elections. However, the BCI website continued to list Reddy as a co-chairman at the time of writing.
Reddy, in his letter, alleged that the BCI had deviated from expected standards during Mishra’s tenure and raised concerns over BCI Trust PEARL. He alleged that around Rs 150 crore of BCI funds were transferred to the trust and claimed that law colleges seeking approval or renewal were asked to make “contributions” of Rs 25 lakh to Rs1 crore.
Mishra denied any financial impropriety, saying the trust’s accounts were annually audited and available in the public domain. He also pointed out that Reddy himself had been a trustee of the trust and had not previously raised objections.
Reddy’s resignation demand also followed the controversy over Mishra’s August 13 communication warning NALSAR Hyderabad students of possible consequences in advocate enrolment if they campaigned against CJI Surya Kant attending the university’s convocation. The communication was withdrawn hours later amid criticism.
Reddy alleged that Mishra had issued the directive without consulting other BCI members and had used the Chairman’s office to threaten students. A petition has also reportedly been filed before the Supreme Court seeking Mishra’s resignation.
Mishra, however, claimed that he continues to enjoy the support of more than two-thirds of BCI members and said he would remain Chairman as long as he retained their confidence.
He also dismissed the criticism as an internal political dispute, recalling that he had previously defended Reddy when a no-confidence motion against him was considered by the BCI.
The controversy comes amid increasing scrutiny of the BCI’s functioning and calls from sections of the legal fraternity for greater accountability.
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