IndiaPublished
Manan Mishra Faces Calls to Resign Over Bar Council Accountability
At a glance
- Supreme Court warns Bar Council against blanket orders, demanding response within two weeks.
- Manan Mishra has led the council for 14 years, facing calls to resign.
- Court intervened last November to force timely elections in 18–19 state bar councils.
- Critics argue the council’s power to regulate lawyers lacks sufficient accountability.
Manan Mishra, the 14‑year‑old chairman of the Bar Council of India, is under scrutiny as critics demand he resign. The Supreme Court recently warned the Bar Council against issuing blanket orders and is awaiting a response within two weeks. Mishra’s tenure has been marked by delays in state bar council elections, prompting the Court to intervene in November to enforce timely voting.
He was elected unopposed last year, raising questions about the council’s democratic processes. Advocates argue that the council’s power to regulate lawyers has been exercised without sufficient accountability. The debate highlights a broader deficit in oversight across Indian institutions, including the Bar Council.
If Mishra does not step down, reforms may be limited, potentially undermining the council’s legitimacy. The Supreme Court’s intervention underscores the need for transparent governance within the legal profession.