‘Weak leadership’: Three lawyers’ collectives demand resignation of Bar Council Chairman

Three lawyers' collectives, representing over 700 members nationwide, have called for the resignation of Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra following the NALSAR University controversy. The lawyers threatened to invoke a no-confidence motion if Mishra refuses to step down. This demand emerged a day after Mishra apologized to NALSAR law students, after initially barring their 2026 graduates from enrolling with state bar councils and then retracting the order.

The All India Lawyers Association for Justice, National Alliance for Justice Accountability and Rights, and Queer Lawyers Association - each boasting thousands of members - have endorsed a letter demanding Mishra's resignation. They stated, "In light of the deeply disturbing and embarrassing episode between BCI Chair and NALSAR students, we, as members of the legal fraternity, are deeply ashamed that the statutory institution that governs us is led by Mr Manan Kumar Mishra — a man so prone to arbitrariness that he frequently fails in upholding the interests and integrity of the Bar, in his pursuit of powers that be."

The lawyers emphasized the critical role of the legal profession in a democratic society, lamenting the decline in integrity due to Mishra's weak leadership. They urged other Bar Council members and state bar councils to demand a full institutional review of the legal authority behind the enrollment directive, as well as an inquiry into the NALSAR students' decision to protest Chief Justice of India Surya Kant's presence at their convocation.