Lawyers’ union demands BCI chairman’s resignation over NALSAR order and other decisions

The All India Lawyers Union (AILU) has demanded the resignation of Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra over a controversial order barring the enrolment of students from the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) in Andhra Pradesh. The demand was made at the union’s national council meeting held on Sunday (August 16).

Addressing the media, AILU president Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya said that Mr. Mishra ought to have resigned, “showing respect for the chair,” instead of merely retracting his statement or issuing an apology. The union’s demand comes after the BCI order was widely criticised by legal circles and later withdrawn. The AILU maintained that the chairman’s actions had undermined the credibility of the institution and that a resignation was necessary to uphold its integrity.

The union also demanded the withdrawal of cases registered against protesters who participated in recent agitations over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination. It further urged the government to stop monitoring and “harassing” young people for expressing dissent on social media, asserting that such actions violate constitutional freedoms.

In a separate set of demands, the AILU sought an amendment to the Advocates’ Welfare Fund Act, 2001, to provide a minimum death-cum-retirement benefit of ₹25 lakh and to enhance medical benefits to ₹5 lakh. It also called for a monthly stipend of ₹10,000 for junior lawyers for a minimum period of five years. The union said that benefits under the Welfare Fund had not kept pace with the rising cost of living, medical expenses, and other economic realities faced by lawyers in the event of retirement, death, or disability.

The union further highlighted that the BCI had issued an order altering the strength of State Bar Councils, which was later set aside by the Supreme Court. The AILU stated that the BCI was not authorised to make such a change, and that any alteration to the composition of state bodies should have been brought through the legislative process rather than an administrative circular. These decisions, taken by the Chairman without the requisite authority, were cited as another reason for demanding his resignation.

Mr. Bhattacharya was joined at the press conference by general secretary P.V. Surendranath, State president and All India vice-president K. Gopalakrishna Kurup, State secretary N.C. Mohanan, and assistant secretary K. Anil Kumar. The AILU represents lawyers across India and has been vocal on issues affecting the legal profession and justice delivery.