Supreme Court Plea Challenges BCI Chairman's Tenure

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the tenure of Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, seeking fresh elections, term limits, and an independent audit of the council's finances. The plea, filed by advocate Yogamaya M.G., questions Mishra's continued leadership and comes amid ongoing protests by lawyers demanding his resignation.

The petition, reported on August 22, 2026, argues that the BCI Rules prescribe a two-year tenure for the chairman and vice-chairman. It challenges a Gazette notification from April 2025 that records Mishra's current term as running from April 17, 2025, to April 16, 2030. The petitioner contends that an administrative notification cannot extend the tenure beyond the period set by the rules. The plea notes that Mishra has served as BCI chairman for roughly 14 years, first taking the post in 2012 and being re-elected unopposed in March 2025.

The petition seeks a Supreme Court directive to quash the April 2025 notification and order fresh elections within a fixed timeframe. It also proposes term limits, a cooling-off period between terms, and a rotational system to allow representatives from different states to lead...