The internal dispute within the Bar Council of India (BCI) intensified on Saturday after Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra rejected allegations levelled against him by BCI co-chairman and senior advocate YR Sadasiva Reddy, calling the claims baseless and saying there was “no substance” in them.
Reddy had earlier demanded Mishra’s immediate resignation, alleging irregularities in appointments, diversion of funds and a lack of transparency in the functioning of the Council.
Mishra, however, strongly denied the allegations and said the claims had surfaced only recently.
“If a handful of individuals are making baseless allegations, whether regarding a trust or the appointment of a relative, there is no substance to them. These unfounded claims are surfacing only now,” Mishra told ANI.
Reddy seeks Mishra’s resignation
In a letter dated August 22 addressed to Mishra, Reddy sought the BCI chairman’s resignation and called for an independent inquiry into the allegations.
He also demanded a special meeting of the BCI to consider the issues raised in his notice.
One of the central allegations concerns appointments within the BCI establishment. Reddy alleged that staff appointments were made without following a transparent recruitment process and claimed that several employees had personal or family links to Mishra.
Reddy said he had initially not questioned the appointment process because he had no reason to suspect irregularities. However, after examining the current staff list and details of employees, he alleged that he found a pattern that required scrutiny.
According to the allegations cited in the letter, several staff members were allegedly connected to Mishra personally, including members of or people related to his family.
Mishra challenges allegations
Mishra has rejected the accusations and invited scrutiny of the trust’s accounts, signalling that he is prepared to have the financial allegations examined.
The dispute has put the functioning and internal administration of the country’s apex statutory body representing advocates under renewed scrutiny.
The allegations and counter-allegations are yet to be independently adjudicated, and the developments could lead to further calls for transparency within the Council.
The latest confrontation comes as questions are being raised over appointments, financial management and institutional accountability within the BCI.
What happens next?
Reddy’s demand for an independent inquiry and a special BCI meeting could determine the next phase of the dispute. Mishra’s decision to reject the allegations and invite scrutiny of the accounts could also shift the focus towards documentary and financial evidence.
For now, the allegations remain contested, with the two senior BCI office-bearers presenting sharply different accounts of the Council’s functioning.
