BCI co-chair seeks Manan Mishra’s resignation, flags Rs 150 crore fund transfer and long tenure

August 22, 2026

New Delhi: Calls for Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Mishra’s resignation grew louder on Saturday after BCI Co-Chair YR Sadashiv Reddy demanded that he step down, while seeking an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in the statutory body’s functioning.

In a six-page letter, Reddy raised allegations concerning recruitment, management of funds, appointments, law college approvals, State Bar Council affairs and decisions affecting law students. He also questioned Mishra’s long tenure as BCI chairman.

Reddy’s demands come days after the controversy involving students of the 2026 batch of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, over an instruction issued by the BCI chairman’s office regarding their enrolment.

Reddy alleges irregularities in BCI recruitment

Reddy has alleged that several appointments within the BCI were made without a clearly documented recruitment process.

According to his letter, he was not provided details such as recruitment advertisements, selection committee information or merit lists for some appointments. He also alleged that several BCI employees have personal links with the chairman, including claims involving family members or relatives.

Reddy has sought greater transparency in recruitment and disclosure of relevant records.

Rs 150 crore BCI fund transfer questioned

One of the major issues raised in the letter concerns the BCI’s old trust and the creation of BCI Trust PEARL-First.

Reddy alleged that the trust was established on September 17, 2020, following which a proposal was made to transfer around Rs 150 crore belonging to the BCI to the new trust.

He said he and some other members had opposed the move, but the money was transferred despite their objections. Reddy further alleged that BCI members had not been provided complete information about the trust or a copy of its trust deed.

He has sought an independent audit of the accounts of the BCI and BCI Trust PEARL-First.

Allegations over law college approval payments

Reddy has also raised allegations concerning the approval and extension of approval of law colleges.

According to his letter, complaints have been received from several states alleging that new law colleges seeking approval and existing colleges seeking extension of approval were being asked to make “contributions” ranging from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakh and up to Rs 1 crore.

Reddy said the allegations, if established, would raise serious concerns because the body responsible for granting approval to law colleges should not receive money from colleges or their managements in connection with such approvals.

He has demanded an immediate halt to any form of financial collection from law colleges, universities or their managements.

Reddy raises concerns over family appointments

The BCI co-chair has also alleged that family members were given important positions in the BCI and educational institutions associated with it.

He questioned whether the purpose of establishing such institutions, their budgets and their functioning were properly placed before the BCI Council.

The letter also refers to questions raised before the Supreme Court concerning the BCI’s role in approving law colleges while also running a law institution.

NALSAR row triggers fresh controversy

Reddy has criticised the BCI’s handling of the NALSAR controversy involving students of the 2026 batch.

According to him, the BCI chairman’s office on August 13 instructed State Bar Councils not to enrol students from NALSAR’s 2026 batch until further orders.

Reddy alleged that the decision was taken without placing the matter before the full BCI Council. The instruction was subsequently withdrawn within hours, and Mishra expressed regret over the episode on August 15.

Reddy said preventing an entire batch of students from entering the legal profession over the expression of their views was inappropriate.

BCI chairman’s long tenure questioned

Reddy has also questioned Mishra’s long tenure as chairman of the Bar Council of India.

He said the chairman’s term is for two years and alleged that Mishra has remained in the position since 2012, having been elected again in 2025 for another consecutive term.

According to Reddy, the continued presence of the same individual in the post for such a long period raises questions about the functioning of the BCI’s election system.

He said the controversy had moved beyond the internal functioning of the BCI, with lawyers staging protests and demanding Mishra’s resignation.

Reddy seeks independent probe, audit

Reddy has called for a special BCI meeting to discuss the allegations and has sought disclosure of relevant records before members of the Council.

His key demands include an independent audit of the BCI and BCI Trust PEARL-First accounts, stopping any financial collections from law colleges and universities, and publishing complete details of BCI employees on the organisation’s website.

He has also demanded that Mishra resign within 15 days.

Reddy maintained that his demands were not motivated by personal hostility, saying he had worked with Mishra in the BCI for nearly a decade and had observed its functioning from within.

The allegations raised by Reddy are serious and remain allegations at this stage. His demand for an independent investigation seeks to establish whether the alleged financial, administrative and procedural irregularities occurred and whether the BCI’s actions complied with applicable rules.