Lawyers Protest Outside Bar Council Office Demanding Chairman Manan Mishra's Resignation
Advocates staged a protest on August 20 outside the Bar Council of India headquarters, demanding the immediate resignation of BCI Chairman Manan Mishra over the controversial move to block the enrolment of NALSAR University of Law graduates.
Police were deployed and security was tightened near the Bar Council office as protesting lawyers held placards against the BCI chief. The protest received backing from the Cockroach Janta Party, with founder Abhijeet Dipke joining calls for Mishra to step down. The Bombay Bar Association also condemned the BCI chairman's actions.
The unrest stems from an earlier directive issued by Mishra directing all state bar councils not to enrol any 2026 law graduates from NALSAR University as advocates until further orders. The directive was issued after a group of NALSAR students wrote to university authorities objecting to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant being invited as chief guest for the convocation.
The students had raised concerns regarding CJI Kant's remarks during a Supreme Court hearing on alleged police excesses during a student demonstration at Jantar Mantar on July 20.
Following widespread backlash and protest threats, the BCI made a quick U-turn and withdrew the order, stating that the vast majority of students were innocent and could not be held responsible for the actions of a few.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant strongly reprimanded the BCI over the order, stating the council had no business interfering with students' right to lawful and peaceful protest. CJI Kant also restrained the BCI and all state bar councils from taking punitive or criminal action against students or faculty members of any university in connection with the incident.
In response to the mounting criticism, Mishra issued an apology on Independence Day, stating that if any of his words or letters had hurt the feelings of law students, he sincerely regretted and apologised for the same.
Despite the apology and withdrawal of the order, protesting lawyers proceeded with their demonstration on August 20, calling for his exit. The Supreme Court has also admitted a petition seeking directions to prevent the BCI from issuing such directives in the future and issued a notice to the council.
