BCI chief dismisses co-chair's resignation demand as baseless

Manan Kumar Mishra, the Bar Council of India's chairperson, dismissed criticism levelled against him by senior advocate and the bar body's co-chairman Y R Sadasiva Reddy on Saturday, characterizing the allegations as without merit. Speaking to the media, Mishra emphasized his commitment to "honesty and integrity" and rejected assertions that the BCI has strayed from its institutional standards under his leadership.

Reddy's allegations came in a letter dated August 22, wherein the senior advocate called upon Mishra to step down within 15 days. Reddy also sought a special meeting of the BCI and requested an independent audit of the statutory body's accounts as well as the BCI Trust PEARL-First.

Mishra countered that Reddy no longer holds the standing to make such demands, noting that Reddy has ceased to be a BCI member after failing to contest the most recent bar council elections in his home state, Karnataka. The BCI chief further pointed out that Reddy had served as a council member for eight years without raising similar grievances during his tenure.

The dispute marks a significant internal rift within India's premier legal regulatory body, with both figures holding senior positions within the organization. The contention centres on governance standards and financial oversight of BCI's institutional mechanisms.