Karnataka Bar Council Backs Manan Kumar Mishra, Dismisses Resignation Demands As "Politically Motivated"

The Karnataka State Bar Council has expressed its solidarity with Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman of the Bar Council of India, after recent demands for his resignation and said that these allegations are politically motivated.

Recently, Mishra has turned down demands for his resignation, mounting an aggressive defence of his leadership while directly disputing the official standing and political motives of his critics. 

The State Bar Council has said in a letter dated August 24, 2026, "The KSBC firmly dismisses and condemns the recent letter dated August 22, 2026, issued by former member Shri Y. R. Sadasiva Reddy. The allegations contained therein are politically motivated, baseless, and aimed at creating artificial friction within the legal fraternity."

The BCI has issued a circular directing that all state bar councils shall not enroll any 2026 graduate of NALSAR University of Law as an advocate until further orders and had sought a report identifying those responsible. However, within hours after an uproar on social media, the BCI reversed this order. The apex statutory body for lawyers said a final decision in the matter would be taken on August 19 after considering the material placed before it.

The Supreme Court, upon oral mentioning, issued notice to the Bar Council of India (BCI) and further restrained the regulatory body from taking any coercive steps against the students or faculty of NALSAR University of Law by the BCI or any State Bar Council in relation to the controversy.

After that a letter was addressed by Senior Advocate Y.R. Sadasiva Reddy to Mishra seeking his resignation, serious allegations including diversion of Rs. 150 crores of Council funds to a private trust and the appointment of family members to key positions against the BCI Chairman.

To this, KSBC has responded and said Reddy has served as a Member and Co-Chairman of the Bar Council of India for nearly a decade and he has participated in and endorsed the administrative, financial, and regulatory decisions of the Council without objection. But his sudden, opportunistic grievances-raised years after these decisions were executed-demonstrate a clear lack of bona fides.

"Just two years after recommending his name as the BCI representative, the Karnataka State Bar Council passed an official resolution removing Shri Y. R. Sadasivareddy as the BCI member representing KSBC by 2/3rd majority due to his inefficiency and unsatisfactory performance. But he continued in that same post at the mercy of the BCI Chairman. It is ironic that an individual previously removed by his home State Bar Council for inefficiency now seeks to question the credentials of the BCI Chairman", the letter said.

The letter also said that Reddy did not contest the recent Karnataka State Bar Council elections and is no longer an elected member of the State Bar Council. 

"Under the stewardship of Shri Manan Kumar Mishra, the Bar Council of India has consistently protected the autonomy of the profession, strengthened advocate welfare initiatives, upgraded digital infrastructure, and resolved institutional matters through constructive, democratic dialogue", it added.

Finally, KSBC appealed to the advocates of Karnataka and across India to reject politically motivated distractions and remain united under the leadership of Mishra.

The exchange follows a formal demand by Reddy on August 22 seeking Mishra's resignation within 15 days, a special General Council meeting, and an independent financial inquiry. Other BCI members, including Manoj Kumar Narendran and Srinath Tripathi, have also raised objections regarding Mishra’s executive decisions during a recent General Council session.

A primary flashpoint remains the BCI's August 13 directive instructing State Bar Councils to withhold advocate enrolments for NALSAR University’s graduating class. While the BCI subsequently withdrew the order following widespread pushback, critics argue that taking administrative action against graduates without General Council authorization damaged institutional standing.

Mishra was elected for a seventh consecutive term in March, 2025.