Bar Council of India (BCI) Co-Chairman and senior advocate YR Sadashiva Reddy has sought the resignation of BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, alleging serious irregularities in how the apex statutory body regulating India's legal profession has been functioning. Reddy contends that under the current leadership, the BCI has moved away from the transparency and accountability standards expected of the institution. It's worth stating clearly upfront: these are allegations raised by Reddy in a formal letter, and they have not been independently established or verified at this stage. The material available doesn't include a response from Chairman Mishra to these claims.
What Reddy Is Demanding
In his letter addressed to Mishra, Reddy has called for immediate resignation, or at minimum, that Mishra step down within 15 days of receiving the communication. He's also demanded that a Special Meeting of the BCI be convened specifically to discuss the issues raised, with relevant records placed before members in advance of that meeting.
A Call for an Independent Audit
One of Reddy's central demands is a special audit of the Bar Council of India's accounts and those of BCI Trust PEARL-First, covering the trust's financial transactions from the date of its registration right up to the present. According to the letter, this audit should be conducted by an independent firm empanelled with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), with the resulting report circulated among all BCI members and made public. This kind of formal, auditing services in india-style independent review is exactly the mechanism Reddy is pushing for to settle the financial questions he's raised, rather than leaving them as unresolved allegations.
He's also called for an immediate suspension of the BCI, or any associated trust or body, accepting contributions, donations, or other payments from law colleges, universities, or their managements while these questions remain unresolved.
The Alleged ₹150 Crore Fund Transfer
Among Reddy's broader allegations: that appointments within the BCI establishment were made without a transparent recruitment process, and that an earlier BCI trust was rendered inactive while around ₹150 crore in council funds were allegedly transferred to a newly created trust. Again, these claims have not been independently verified, and no response from Mishra addressing them has been made available.
Concerns Over Payments From Law Colleges
Reddy has further alleged that contributions were repeatedly sought from law colleges seeking approval or renewal of approval from the BCI, raising questions about the transparency and financial accountability of these arrangements, and demanding an immediate halt to such payments. He's also flagged concerns over members of Mishra's family reportedly holding significant positions in institutions associated with the Council, arguing this warrants scrutiny for potential conflicts of interest.
The NALSAR Matter and Broader Institutional Concerns
Separately, Reddy has questioned a direction issued against the graduating batch of NALSAR University of Law, alleging the decision was made without relevant material being properly placed before the Council. He's also accused the BCI leadership of encouraging factionalism within State Bar Councils, calling more broadly for greater transparency, institutional accountability, and stricter adherence to established procedures within the legal profession's apex regulatory body.
What Happens Next
Reddy has urged the BCI to convene a Special Meeting to formally consider these allegations and demands, with a comprehensive review sought into the Council's financial management, recruitment procedures, payments involving law colleges, and the functioning of institutions and trusts associated with the BCI. For now, this remains an internal dispute raised by the Co-Chairman, with the underlying allegations, the fund transfer, recruitment practices, and college payments, still unverified. Any formal response from Chairman Mishra, if and when issued, is likely to clarify his position and shed further light on the dispute.
FAQs
Q1. What is BCI Co-Chairman YR Sadashiva Reddy demanding?
He has sought the immediate resignation of BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, or that he step down within 15 days, along with a Special Meeting to discuss allegations of financial and administrative irregularities.
Q2. What is the central financial allegation in this dispute?
Reddy alleges around ₹150 crore in BCI funds were transferred to a newly created trust after an earlier trust was rendered inactive, a claim that remains unverified.
Q3. What kind of audit has Reddy called for?
An independent audit of BCI and BCI Trust PEARL-First's accounts, conducted by a firm empanelled with the CAG, with the report made public.
Q4. Has BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra responded to these allegations?
No formal response from Mishra addressing these specific allegations is currently available.