New Delhi, August 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra on Saturday said he was willing to resign and face consequences if allegations of financial irregularities in the Council were proven, amid calls for his resignation.
Mishra’s remarks came a day after BCI Co-Chairman YR Sadasiva Reddy reportedly wrote to him seeking his resignation within 15 days and raised questions over the Council’s administrative and financial functioning.
According to the allegations cited in the letter, concerns included transparency in appointments, the use of BCI funds, an alleged practice of accepting donations from law colleges and the recent NALSAR controversy, which Reddy said had affected the institution’s credibility.
Responding to the financial allegations, Mishra said the BCI’s transactions are audited annually by a certified chartered accountant and that the audit reports are publicly available.
“As far as BCI’s money transactions are concerned, it being audited every year by a certified chartered accountant. It is there in the public domain. Anybody can see and make comments about it. There is absolutely no objection by any auditor or anybody,” he said.
Mishra challenged anyone to establish financial wrongdoing and said he would immediately resign if such irregularities were proven.
“No body can raise a finger on Manan Mishra’s honesty and integrity. I challenge anyone, if they can prove that there is any kind of financial irregularity, I will immediately step down and will be ready to face the consequences,” he said.
Mishra, who said he is serving his seventh term as BCI Chairman, defended his record and cited his advocacy for lawyers’ protection and compensation, as well as issues involving case backlogs and vacancies in lower and higher courts.
He also maintained that there is no statutory limit on his tenure as BCI Chairman. Referring to the Advocates Act, he said, “The Advocate’s Act does not fix any limit on the tenure. I can be the Chairman or a member throughout my life, there is absolutely no bar in the eyes of law.”
Mishra attributed the allegations against him to political differences and personal vendetta. He said his position would depend on the support of the BCI’s two-thirds majority rather than the demand of an individual office-bearer.
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