Bombay Bar Association Condemns BCI Chairman Over NALSAR Action, Demands Resignation
The Bombay Bar Association in Mumbai condemned Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra on August 19, 2026, for his actions against graduating students of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. The association described Mishra's subsequent apology as "clearly belated" and stated that he ought to have resigned from the post.
In a statement approved by its Standing Committee during meetings held on August 17 and 18, the association described Mishra’s August 13 communication as an "abuse" of the office of the BCI chairman. It noted that the communication was issued without providing the students an opportunity to be heard, causing "grave prejudice" to their professional careers.
The controversy began after Mishra directed the Vice-Chancellor of NALSAR to submit a report and instructed State Bar Councils not to enrol members of the 2026 graduating batch as advocates. A subsequent communication issued on the same day dropped the proposed action against the students but retained the directive for an inquiry. The BCI later announced that proceedings against the students had been closed completely.
The Bombay Bar Association supported the eventual dropping of proceedings, describing it as "a step in the right direction" that restored faith in the BCI. However, the association maintained strong criticism of Mishra's conduct, stating that the August 13 communication was "uncalled for" and represented an extreme step against students without regard to their right to protest and freedom of speech and expression. The association noted that a large section of the students had been "condemned unheard".
The association also expressed "deepest anguish" that Mishra issued orders and directions on matters that did not fall within the BCI's purview. Addressing Mishra’s August 15 apology, the association said the gesture appeared to be an attempt to "merely assuage the situation" and could not be considered an expression of "true remorse" because Mishra continued to hold the chairmanship.
The dispute originally arose after some NALSAR students opposed inviting Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to the university’s convocation, reportedly over comments concerning NEET student protests in Delhi. The matter is also before the Supreme Court. The Bombay Bar Association affirmed its commitment to the BCI as an institution while strongly condemning the actions of its chairman.
