“I was elected, I won’t step down”: BCI chief Manan Kumar Mishra responds to Lawyers’ protest

New Delhi [India], August 21 (ANI): Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman and Rajya Sabha MP Manan Kumar Mishra on Friday rejected calls for his resignation following a protest by a group of lawyers, asserting that he was elected to the post and represents around 25 lakh lawyers across the country.
"I have served as the Chairman of the Bar Council of India for 12 to 14 years because I was elected. Manan Mishra represents 25 lakh lawyers; he will not step down simply," Mishra said, responding to the protest.
His remarks came a day after members of different Bar Associations of Delhi gathered outside the BCI office in New Delhi, demanding his resignation over several issues concerning the legal fraternity.
The protesting lawyers raised concerns over Mishra's long tenure as BCI chairman, alleged lack of advocate welfare schemes, non-implementation of an Advocate Protection Act and a proposed increase in the registration fee for lawyers at the State Bar Council.
Addressing the controversy, Mishra also referred to the recent dispute involving students of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, and the Chief Justice of India, who is also the university's Chancellor.
"Lately, there has been a lot of irresponsible and absurd commentary circulating on social media. Students from NALSAR University, Hyderabad, decided to boycott the Chief Justice of India - who is also their Chancellor - and refused to attend the convocation ceremony where he was to preside," Mishra said.
"As the Chairman of the Bar Council of India, I found this deeply objectionable," he added.
Mishra said the BCI subsequently issued an order stating that the students' enrolment would not be processed. However, he said the order was withdrawn within 15 minutes.
"Within 15 minutes, that order was revoked, and the students' grievances were addressed," he said.
Mishra alleged that the incident was subsequently used by members of the Aam Aadmi Party and a group he referred to as the "CJP group" to demand his resignation.
"I have served as the Chairman of the Bar Council of India for 12 to 14 years because I was elected," he reiterated.
He also said that a group of students had gathered outside the BCI office late on Thursday.
"Yesterday, about 15 students came here at night demanding a resignation," Mishra said.
Meanwhile, a group of lawyers gathered in support of Mishra and defended his position as an elected representative of the legal fraternity.
Advocate Satyam Singh said the BCI chairman could not simply be removed through protests because he had been elected by the legal community.
"The BCI Chairman is an elected official who has been consistently voted into office. He hasn't been appointed through a selection process or an exam where you can simply show up and demand his resignation," Singh said.
"He represents 2.5 million lawyers across the country, representing them successfully for years on end," he added.
On the NALSAR controversy, Singh said the issue should be viewed from the perspective of the institution and the legal profession.
"The CJI is the head of the Constitution--in a sense, its guardian--while NALSAR students are future lawyers and judges who will become part of this profession, whether on the Bar or the Bench. If they do not respect or trust that institution, where does that leave us?" he said.
Singh also defended Mishra's decision to issue the initial order, while acknowledging that it was subsequently withdrawn.
"He withdrew it and admitted it was issued in haste. However, it was necessary to send a message that one must trust and respect the institution; that was the intent behind the move," Singh said.
The protest by lawyers on Thursday also focused on wider concerns within the legal profession. Advocate Raman Sharma alleged that despite Mishra's long tenure, there had been no significant national welfare scheme for lawyers.
Advocate Umesh Kumar raised concerns over the absence of a national insurance scheme for lawyers and objected to the proposed increase in enrolment fees to Rs 22,500.
Other protesters, including advocate Perdeep Nagar, called for stronger scrutiny of lawyers' credentials and greater attention to the welfare of the legal fraternity. (ANI)