Manan Kumar Mishra, chairman of the Bar Council of India (BCI), became the centre of a controversy on Thursday after the statutory regulator initially directed State Bar Councils not to enrol any 2026 law graduate from Hyderabad-based NALSAR University of Law as an advocate. The order followed a campaign by some students opposing the invitation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to the university's convocation.
Hours later, Mishra withdrew the communication and said the BCI had reconsidered its earlier direction. In a fresh letter issued late Thursday, he said the council had “thoroughly discussed and deliberated” on his earlier communication and had decided to modify its direction.
Who is Manan Kumar Mishra?
Mishra is the chairman of the Bar Council of India, the statutory body responsible for regulating legal education and the legal profession.
Beyond his legal career, Mishra has also been active in politics. He contested the 2010 Bihar Assembly election on a Congress ticket before later joining the BJP. In 2024, the BJP nominated him to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar, where he was elected unopposed.
His actions in the NALSAR matter drew criticism after his initial communication sought to prevent the 2026 graduating batch from being enrolled by State Bar Councils until further orders.
What did the BCI's first order say?
In his initial letter to NALSAR's vice-chancellor and State Bar Council secretaries, Mishra sought a “factual report” identifying those who were allegedly instrumental in “intimidation of a constitutional functionary” by initiating, organising or mobilising a campaign against the CJI's participation in the convocation.
The BCI directed that, until further orders, no student from NALSAR's 2026 graduating batch would be enrolled as an advocate by any State Bar Council. Mishra said a final decision would be taken on August 19 after receiving the vice-chancellor's report.
The council also asked NALSAR to distinguish between students who merely signed or supported representations, those who organised or coordinated the campaign, and those who proposed or mobilised an actual boycott, obstruction or disruption.
Mishra had also clarified that the BCI was not, at that stage, declaring anyone ineligible for enrolment under Section 24A of the Advocates Act merely because they had participated in the representation or campaign.
Why did Mishra withdraw the communication?
In his revised communication issued on Thursday evening, Mishra said the BCI's latest assessment indicated that the vast majority of NALSAR's 2026 graduating students were innocent and “were not inclined to take part in the move of disrespect”.
At the same time, he said information from what he described as reliable sources suggested that “a handful of teachers and outsiders were instrumental in instigating innocent students”.
The BCI will now wait for NALSAR's inquiry report, according to Mishra's fresh letter, which he also posted on his X handle.
