The controversy surrounding Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Mishra has intensified, with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) backing a fresh protest demanding his resignation over the Council’s action against students of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad.
The All India Young Advocates Association has called for the protest outside the BCI office in New Delhi on Thursday. CJP leaders, including founder Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, have extended their support to the demonstration.
The latest development comes less than a month after a separate protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi that had drawn support from the CJP.
What sparked the Manan Mishra resignation demand?
The current controversy centres on an order issued by the BCI concerning law students at NALSAR University.
The dispute began after some NALSAR students wrote to the university’s vice-chancellor, registrar and professors objecting to a proposal to invite Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as the chief guest for the university’s convocation.
Following the students’ objections, Mishra ordered that the enrolment of NALSAR law graduates as advocates be frozen until further orders.
The move triggered criticism and backlash, with questions raised over the BCI’s involvement in the students’ objections and their right to express their views.
The BCI subsequently withdrew the order within hours.
CJI questions BCI’s intervention
The controversy escalated after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant criticised the BCI’s intervention.
The CJI questioned the Council’s involvement in the matter and said it had “no business” getting involved in students’ right to protest.
He also emphasised that students could not be prevented from expressing their concerns through lawful and peaceful protests.
Mishra later issued an apology to law students on Independence Day, saying the developments had caused concern among students and expressing regret if his words or communications had hurt their feelings.
CJP backs fresh protest
Despite the withdrawal of the order and Mishra’s subsequent apology, calls for his resignation have continued.
CJP leader Saurav Das demanded Mishra’s resignation following the CJI’s criticism of the BCI.
On Wednesday, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke posted on X: “Manan, it’s done bro! All legal cockroaches must join this protest.”
Das also said he supported peaceful protests seeking accountability and higher standards of conduct in public office.
Other CJP members, including Ranka and Ratna Singh, also backed the demonstration and stressed the importance of accountability and peaceful protest.
When and where is the protest?
The protest by the group referring to its supporters as “legal cockroaches” is scheduled for 10 am on Thursday outside the Bar Council of India office in New Delhi.
The demonstration is expected to keep the spotlight on the BCI’s handling of the NALSAR controversy, even after the disputed order was withdrawn.
For now, the central demand from the protesting lawyers and CJP supporters remains clear: Manan Mishra’s resignation as BCI chairman.
