New Delhi, Sept. 3 -- The Supreme Court has ordered a five-week process to reconstitute the Bar Council of India (BCI) through fresh elections and restricted the powers of its chairman, Manan Kumar Mishra, until the new body is elected. Under the interim arrangement, Mishra will be limited to day-to-day administrative matters. Major policy decisions will require the participation and approval of Attorney General R Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
The order came during a plea challenging Mishra's prolonged tenure as BCI chairman. He has held the post since 2014 through multiple terms. The petitioners argued that BCI rules provide for a two-year tenure for the chairman and vice-chairman, while a gazette notification issued in April 2025 extended Mishra's term until April 2030.
The Supreme Court questioned how a five-year extension could be granted through an administrative notification when the relevant rule provides for a two-year term. The petitioners also alleged centralisation of power within the BCI and claimed that council assets were being transferred through the creation of a private trust. Rather than ordering Mishra's immediate removal, the court opted for an interim arrangement to keep the BCI functioning while restoring its elected structure. As part of the five-week election roadmap, Chief Justices of all High Courts have been directed to nominate two women members to their respective State Bar Councils within two weeks. The revised composition of the councils is to be notified within the following week.
The State Bar Councils will then have three weeks to elect their chairpersons and representatives to the BCI. These elected representatives will subsequently elect the new BCI chairman and other office-bearers. The Supreme Court is scheduled to review compliance reports from the states on September 17 and assess the progress of the election process.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.