Supreme Court plea seeks removal of BCI chief Manan Kumar Mishra, fresh election

Advocate MG Yogamaya has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking the removal of Manan Kumar Mishra from his position as Chairman of the Bar Council of India (BCI). The petition challenges the decision to extend Mishra's term for an additional five years, as the BCI Rules limit a chairman's tenure to just two years. In addition to this, the petition seeks an interim directive to establish an independent administrative committee to manage BCI affairs should Mishra be removed.

The petition also calls for the creation of an independent, judge-led committee to investigate the BCI's financial management and appointments made under his tenure. The controversy surrounding Mishra began when he refused to enroll the graduating batch of NALSAR University of Law students following objections related to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant's participation in their convocation.

Mishra initially maintained his decision but later withdrew it and initiated an inquiry into allegations of external influence on the students. Following the incident, Mishra issued an apology letter expressing regret for any hurt caused, leading to calls for his removal and protests by legal professionals outside the BCI office.

The petition argues that Mishra's prolonged tenure violates the two-year cap set by BCI Rules, Rule 12(2), and questions the continuation of his leadership since 2014, as well as the recent extension of his term to 2030 in a Gazette notification. The petition also demands a thorough investigation into the BCI's finances, particularly the PEARL-FIRST Trust and the All India Bar Examination, and a fresh election to be conducted promptly under court supervision to restore transparency and accountability.