{"id":12285,"date":"2026-08-14T10:10:57","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T10:10:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=12285"},"modified":"2026-08-14T10:10:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T10:10:57","slug":"bci-nalsar-row-who-is-manan-kumar-mishra-and-why-is-he-in-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=12285","title":{"rendered":"BCI-NALSAR row: Who is Manan Kumar Mishra and why is he in spotlight?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-133232134,imgsize-69434,width-400,height-225,resizemode-75\/bar-council-of-india-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-is-central-to-a-recent-controversy.jpg\" alt=\"BCI-NALSAR row: Who is Manan Kumar Mishra and why is he in spotlight?\" title=\"Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra is central to a recent controversy.\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra is central to a recent controversy.\">Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra is central to a recent controversy.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>NEW DELHI: Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Manan Kumar Mishra, who has headed the Bar Council of India (BCI) for more than a decade, has found himself at the centre of a growing controversy after the council\u2019s brief move to halt the enrolment of NALSAR University\u2019s 2026 graduating batch triggered a legal and political storm.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"2\"\/>The episode, which triggered sharp criticism from legal circles and drew strong observations from the Supreme Court, has also renewed scrutiny of Mishra\u2019s prolonged tenure at the helm of the country\u2019s top lawyers\u2019 body.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"4\"\/>Amid the row, a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking structural reforms in the BCI, including fixed tenures and term limits for its chairman and other office-bearers.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/>The petition comes even as the BCI faced backlash for initially directing state bar councils not to enrol NALSAR\u2019s 2026 graduates as advocates over a student campaign opposing the proposed invitation to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as chief guest at the university\u2019s convocation. <!-- -->The order was withdrawn within hours after widespread criticism.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"11\"\/>The Supreme Court on Friday questioned the BCI\u2019s intervention, with CJI Surya Kant observing that students have a right to protest and that the Council had \u201cno business\u201d interfering in the matter. The controversy has also led to calls for Mishra\u2019s resignation from some quarters, including the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP).<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"13\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h3>Who is Manan Kumar Mishra?<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p>Mishra is a senior advocate and BJP-nominated Rajya Sabha MP from Bihar. He has served as chairman of the BCI since November 2014 and was re-elected to the post for a record seventh consecutive term in 2025.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"18\"\/>The BCI chairperson is elected for a two-year term.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"20\"\/>Mishra hails from Gopalganj district in Bihar. He completed his BSc (Honours) from Rajendra College, Chapra, and obtained his LLB from Patna Law College.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"22\"\/>He began his legal practice at the Gopalganj Civil Court before moving to the Patna High Court in 1982. <!-- -->He subsequently became a senior advocate in the Supreme Court.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"26\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h3>From Congress candidate to BJP Rajya Sabha MP<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p>Mishra has also had a political career. He contested the 2010 Bihar Assembly election on a Congress ticket before joining the BJP.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"29\"\/>In 2024, the BJP nominated him to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar, where he was elected unopposed.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"31\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h3>What triggered the NALSAR controversy?<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p>The controversy began after a section of NALSAR students wrote to the university&#8217;s vice-chancellor, registrar and faculty, opposing the proposed invitation to CJI Surya Kant for the upcoming convocation.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"35\"\/>The students&#8217; objection came after remarks made by the CJI during a hearing concerning alleged police excesses against students during a July 20 protest march to Parliament.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"37\"\/>The BCI subsequently sought a factual report from NALSAR on those who had allegedly initiated, organised or mobilised the campaign.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"39\"\/>In his initial communication, Mishra said a law student who showed no regard for the country&#8217;s highest judicial office could raise questions about their suitability for the legal profession.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"42\"\/>The BCI then directed state bar councils to withhold enrolment of NALSAR&#8217;s 2026 graduates until further orders.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"44\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h3>BCI reverses course<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p>The directive triggered sharp criticism from sections of the legal community and social media users.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"47\"\/>Supreme Court Bar Association president Vikas Singh called the move &#8220;illegal&#8221;, &#8220;disproportionate&#8221; and &#8220;fundamentally unsustainable&#8221;, while also making clear that he did not endorse the students&#8217; opposition to the CJI&#8217;s invitation.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"50\"\/>The BCI subsequently modified its order, saying the &#8220;vast majority&#8221; of NALSAR&#8217;s 2026 graduates were innocent and should not be made to suffer for the alleged conduct of a few.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"52\"\/>The revised communication allowed all 2026 graduates to enrol with state bar councils.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"54\"\/>Mishra later said the council had decided to close the proceedings altogether after considering representations from senior advocates, lawyers, students and members of the public. <!-- -->He said the 2026 batch had no role in any disturbance or movement and that no further action was required.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"58\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h3>Supreme Court questions BCI intervention<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p>The matter reached the Supreme Court on Friday, where a bench headed by CJI Surya Kant took a stern view of the BCI&#8217;s original directive.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"62\"\/>&#8220;Who can stop them,&#8221; the CJI said while observing that students have a right to protest.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"64\"\/>The bench, which also comprised Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, questioned the BCI&#8217;s role in the matter, with the CJI observing that it was a dialogue between him and the students.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"67\"\/>The court issued notice to the BCI and directed that no punitive action be taken against NALSAR students or faculty at the instance of the BCI or any state bar council.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"69\"\/>The BCI&#8217;s counsel informed the court that the circular had already been withdrawn. The matter has been posted for hearing after two weeks.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"71\"\/><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/city\/delhi\/bci-nalsar-row-who-is-manan-kumar-mishra-and-why-is-he-in-spotlight\/articleshow\/133232101.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra is central to a recent controversy. NEW DELHI: Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Manan Kumar Mishra, who has headed the Bar Council of India (BCI) for more than a decade, has found himself at the centre of a growing controversy after the council\u2019s brief move to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12286,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bar-council-of-india-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-is-central-to-a-recent-controversy.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bar-council-of-india-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-is-central-to-a-recent-controversy.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bar-council-of-india-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-is-central-to-a-recent-controversy.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bar-council-of-india-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-is-central-to-a-recent-controversy.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bar-council-of-india-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-is-central-to-a-recent-controversy.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bar-council-of-india-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-is-central-to-a-recent-controversy.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bar-council-of-india-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-is-central-to-a-recent-controversy.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bar-council-of-india-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-is-central-to-a-recent-controversy.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bar-council-of-india-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-is-central-to-a-recent-controversy.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bar-council-of-india-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-is-central-to-a-recent-controversy.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bar-council-of-india-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-is-central-to-a-recent-controversy.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bar-council-of-india-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-is-central-to-a-recent-controversy.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bar-council-of-india-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-is-central-to-a-recent-controversy.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bar-council-of-india-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-is-central-to-a-recent-controversy.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra is central to a recent controversy. NEW DELHI: Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Manan Kumar Mishra, who has headed the Bar Council of India (BCI) for more than a decade, has found himself at the centre of a growing controversy after the council\u2019s brief move to [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":1,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":4,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bar-council-of-india-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-is-central-to-a-recent-controversy.jpg",400,225,false],"medium":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bar-council-of-india-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-is-central-to-a-recent-controversy.jpg",300,169,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bar-council-of-india-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-is-central-to-a-recent-controversy.jpg",150,84,false]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/author\/admin"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"#\" class=\"category-link category-link-31\">\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12285"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12285\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12286"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}