SC Questions Bar Council Chief's 5-Year Tenure, Puts Policy Decisions Under AG, SG Watch
The court ordered faster reconstitution of State Bar Councils and said compliance will be reviewed after lawyers challenged an extension of the BCI chairperson’s tenure.
- The Supreme Court of India ordered State Bar Councils to co-opt two women members within two weeks, initiating the election process for new Bar Council of India office-bearers.
- Arguments from petitioners highlighted that Advocates Act provisions were misused to extend Senior Advocate Manan Kumar Mishra's tenure as BCI Chairperson, describing him as a "pro tem Chairman."
- During the hearing, Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that notifications cannot override statutory provisions, noting BCI Rules prescribe a two-year term for the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.
- Once composed, State Bar Councils must notify their new membership within one week and elect office-bearers, including BCI representatives, within three weeks of that notification.
- Reviewing compliance with these directions on September 17, 2026, the Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant mandated active involvement from the Attorney General and Solicitor General in all BCI policy decisions.
15 Articles
15 Articles
BCI chairman only interim until new body elected: Supreme Court
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday, September 2, remarked that Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra’s position was only “pro tem” or for the time being until a freshly constituted lawyers’ body elects its office-bearers and directed that it has to take any policy decision in consultation with the Attorney General … Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stori…
Supreme Court to Take Up Reconstitution of BCI After State Bar Elections
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. The Supreme Court on Thursday said it will take up the reconstitution of the Bar Council of India after the newly elected State Bar Councils complete the statutory process for constituting the BCI, while hearing pleas challenging the continued occupation of the BCI chairperson's post by Senior Advocate Manan Kumar Mishra and the purported extension of his tenure till 2030. India News | Suprem…
BCI row: What happened in Supreme Court as Manan Mishra becomes pro-tem, State Bar polls get timeline, AG-SG involvement ordered
The immediate focus of the Court is now on completing the constitution of the State Bar Councils, following which the process for constituting a new BCI can proceed.
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