Supreme Court Limits BCI Chief's Powers, Mandates AG-SG Oversight

The Supreme Court has imposed significant constraints on the authority of Manan Kumar Mishra, the pro-tem chief of the Bar Council of India, directing that key policy decisions be overseen by the Attorney General and Solicitor General. The order comes as the BCI prepares for leadership elections and seeks to prevent any controversial decisions during the interim period. According to the court's directive, Mishra's powers are limited to day-to-day functioning and routine administrative matters that do not involve substantive policy changes. Any decisions of significance must be referred to the Attorney General and Solicitor General for approval, establishing a supervisory framework during the leadership transition. The move underscores the court's concern about governance at the BCI during a sensitive electoral period and reflects efforts to ensure that major institutional decisions are made transparently and with appropriate oversight. The restriction applies until the BCI completes its electoral process and establishes a permanent leadership structure.