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Highlights: ‘Lawyers attacked, killed daily,’ say advocates, call for Bar Council chief's exit
Manan Mishra resignation demand: Advocates held a protest against Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Mishra today (August 20) and demanded his resignation over the controversy surrounding the BCI's intervention in the NALSAR University of Law enrolment.
- 1:22 PM IST, Aug 20Key points so far
- 1:00 PM IST, Aug 20What are the protesters demanding?
- 12:16 PM IST, Aug 20Visuals show lawyers protesting outside Bar Council office
- 11:32 AM IST, Aug 20‘Lawyers attacked and murdered daily’, says advocate
- 11:10 AM IST, Aug 20‘Good CJP supported, but fraternity should have thought about it’, says Advocate Raman Sharma
- 11:02 AM IST, Aug 20Lawyers protest against BCI Chairman, hold placards
- 11:01 AM IST, Aug 20Security tightened at Bar Council of India headquarters. Visuals from BCI office
- 10:43 AM IST, Aug 20Police deployed near Bar Council office ahead of protest
- 10:36 AM IST, Aug 20CJP backs protest against BCI chief
- 10:16 AM IST, Aug 20‘Manan, it’s done bro’, says Dipke to BCI chief
- 9:55 AM IST, Aug 20Protest against BCI chairman to begin shortly
- 9:37 AM IST, Aug 20What BCI chief said in apology to law students
- 9:18 AM IST, Aug 20‘Legal cockroaches’ to protest against BCI chief today
- 8:36 AM IST, Aug 20NALSAR student body condemns BCI action
- 8:08 AM IST, Aug 20Why BCI is under fire over NALSAR enrolment row
- 7:52 AM IST, Aug 20Why NALSAR students opposed CJI's presence at convocation
- 7:40 AM IST, Aug 20Bombay Bar Association condemns BCI chairman's actions
- 7:29 AM IST, Aug 20BCI chairman Manan Mishra's apology over NALSAR controversy
- 7:26 AM IST, Aug 20CJI Surya Kant slams BCI's move, backs students' right to protest
- 7:23 AM IST, Aug 20Why is BCI chairman Manan Mishra under fire
- 7:14 AM IST, Aug 20When and where will the protest take place?
- 7:02 AM IST, Aug 20‘Legal cockroaches’ to demand Bar Council chairman's resignation
Manan Mishra resignation demand: Advocates held a protest against Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Mishra today (August 20) over the controversy surrounding the BCI's intervention in the NALSAR University of Law enrolment. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) also supported their demonstration. BCI's Manan Mishra faces flak Mishra is under fire over an order that was later withdrawn, directing state bar councils not to enrol the current batch of NALSAR graduates as advocates....Read More
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant later came down heavily on the BCI over the order, saying it was a "dialogue between students and me".
Where it all began
The row started after a group of NALSAR University of Law students wrote to the institution's vice chancellor, registrar and professors, objecting to a proposal to invite CJI Surya Kant as the chief guest for the university's convocation.
The students objected to remarks made by CJI Kant in the Supreme Court during the hearing of a plea over alleged police excesses against protesters at a student demonstration at Jantar Mantar on July 20.
They cited CJI Kant’s reported remarks that the bench was not interested in watching videos after the lead counsel offered to show footage of the alleged police excesses.
BCI's first order that sparked a row
In its first order, BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra directed all state bar councils not to enrol any 2026 law graduate from NALSAR University as an advocate until further orders.
The BCI also said it was looking into allegations related to the campaign against the CJI's participation in the university's convocation.
A U-turn within hours
Hours after issuing the directive, the Bar Council of India withdrew it following an uproar on social media and a protest threat by Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke.
The revised notification overturned the earlier decision, saying the "vast majority" of students were innocent and could not be held responsible for the alleged actions of a few.
CJI Kant pulls up BCI
The chief justice said the Council had “no business” interfering with the students’ right to protest. He also said the court would not allow students to be stopped from expressing their concerns through lawful and peaceful protests.
He further restrained the BCI and all state bar councils from taking punitive or criminal action against students or faculty members of any national law university or university in connection with the matter.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court admitted a petition seeking directions to prevent the BCI from issuing such directives in the future and issued a notice to the Council.
BCI chairman apologises
In a statement issued on Independence Day, Mishra apologised to law students after facing criticism over the decision. He said recent developments had caused concern among students and expressed regret if any of his words or communications had hurt their feelings.
"If anything connected with the present controversy, any of my words, or letter, has hurt the feelings of our law students, I sincerely regret and apologise for the same.
There should be no hesitation in saying so. An expression of regret is not a matter of prestige or ego. It is simply an acknowledgement that the feelings and concerns of our students matter," the statement said.
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Manan Mishra resignation demand LIVE: Key points so far
Manan Mishra resignation demand LIVE: Key takeaways from the protest:
- Advocates held a protest against Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Mishra today (August 20) over the controversy surrounding the BCI's intervention in the NALSAR University of Law enrolment.
- The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) also supported their demonstration.
- Mishra is under fire over an order that was later withdrawn, directing state bar councils not to enrol the current batch of NALSAR graduates as advocates.
- Chief Justice of India Surya Kant later came down heavily on the BCI over the order, saying it was a "dialogue between students and me".
Manan Mishra resignation demand LIVE: What are the protesters demanding?
Manan Mishra resignation demand LIVE: Days after the NALSAR students controversy, a group of lawyers on Thursday staged a protest outside the office of the Bar Council of India (BCI) demanding the resignation of BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra.
Kumar told news agency ANI that the protest's core demands centred on structural issues within the profession, stating, "The issues here concern lawyer welfare, the Advocates Act, stipends, chambers, our well-being, and the need for control over law colleges--especially regarding fake law colleges and degrees. There are claims that 35% to 40% of the people in this profession are fake lawyers."
Manan Mishra resignation demand LIVE: Visuals show lawyers protesting outside Bar Council office
Manan Mishra resignation demand LIVE: Visuals showed advocates protesting against Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Mishra and demanding his resignation over the controversy surrounding the BCI's intervention in the NALSAR University of Law enrolment row.
Manan Mishra resignation demand LIVE: ‘Lawyers attacked and murdered daily’, says advocate
Manan Mishra resignation demand LIVE: Advocate Umesh Kumar, one of the protesters demanding the resignation of Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Mishra, said that lawyers are attacked daily and murdered inside police stations.
“Name one thing the BCI Chairman has done for the welfare of law students or lawyers…Recently, a senior lawyer died in Hyderabad. Did he issue any official statement regarding that? He remains silent when it comes to our welfare, yet he is always at the forefront of advancing political agendas—often misusing official BCI letters to do so,” he told news agency ANI.
‘Cockroach’ protest LIVE: ‘Good CJP supported, but fraternity should have thought about it’, says Advocate Raman Sharma
‘Cockroach’ protest LIVE: Amid ongoing protest against BCI Chairman, Advocate Raman Sharma said that while it is good that the Cockroach Janta Party supported lawyers, the fraternity should have thought about it on its own.
“It is fine if the Cockroach Janta Party has supported us—that is well and good... our own fraternity certainly should have thought about it. However, this is strictly a movement by advocates against our own apex body to address the shortcomings within the organization and press for our legitimate demands.”
“The Chairman has held his position for 14 years; what has he actually done for the legal fraternity... We know how lawyers are treated in police stations across India... A Supreme Court's judgment empowered Investigating Officers (IOs) to release accused persons directly from the police station in cases involving offenses punishable by less than seven years of imprisonment... Criminal law practice across India is effectively dying out, yet no one is standing up against it. This was our apex body; they should have spoken up. Three major laws were overhauled... The All India Young Lawyers Association are demanding the BCI Chairman's resignation. We are making the same demand…”
‘Cockroach’ protest LIVE: Lawyers protest against BCI Chairman, hold placards
‘Cockroach’ protest LIVE: A group of lawyers protest against the Bar Council of India over alleged irregularities and demand the resignation of BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra.
‘Cockroach’ protest LIVE: Security tightened at Bar Council of India headquarters. Visuals from BCI office
‘Cockroach’ protest LIVE: Security tightened at Bar Council of India headquarters. Visuals from BCI office.
‘Cockroach’ protest LIVE: Police deployed near Bar Council office ahead of protest
‘Cockroach’ protest LIVE: Delhi police officers have been deployed near the Bar Council of India office ahead of a protest over the NALSAR row, backed by the Cockroach Janta Party.
‘Cockroach’ protest LIVE: CJP backs protest against BCI chief
‘Cockroach’ protest LIVE: The CJP has now backed the All India Young Advocates Association’s protest call seeking Mishra’s resignation over his action against the students.
“Manan, it’s done bro! All legal cockroaches must join this protest,” Dipke wrote on X on Wednesday.
“Legal cockroaches unite,” Ranka posted on X.
Ratna Singh, the Cockroach Janta Party’s legal affairs head, also backed the protest call, saying that every form of “peaceful protest is legitimate and welcome”.
“The legal fraternity must recognise that every voice matters and that demanding answers and accountability is not only our right, but our responsibility,” she added.
‘Cockroach’ protest LIVE: ‘Manan, it’s done bro’, says Dipke to BCI chief
‘Cockroach’ protest LIVE: The All India Young Advocates Association called for the protest on Thursday, and CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have extended their support.
“Manan, it’s done bro! All legal cockroaches must join this protest,” Dipke wrote on X on Wednesday.
‘Cockroach’ protest LIVE: Protest against BCI chairman to begin shortly
‘Cockroach’ protest LIVE: The protest by All India Young Advocates Association against BCI chairman Manan Mishra is expected to begin shortly.
The protesters will demand Mishra's resignation over the controversy surrounding the BCI's intervention in the NALSAR University of Law enrolment row.
‘Cockroach’ protest LIVE: What BCI chief said in apology to law students
‘Cockroach’ protest LIVE: In a statement issued on Independence Day, Mishra apologised to law students after facing criticism over the decision.
He said recent developments had caused concern among students and expressed regret if any of his words or communications had hurt their feelings.
"If anything connected with the present controversy, any of my words, or letter, has hurt the feelings of our law students, I sincerely regret and apologise for the same.
There should be no hesitation in saying so. An expression of regret is not a matter of prestige or ego. It is simply an acknowledgement that the feelings and concerns of our students matter," the statement said.
CJP protest LIVE: ‘Legal cockroaches’ to protest against BCI chief today
CJP protest LIVE: Cockroach Janta Party co-convenor Saurav Das has issued a ‘protest alert’, saying that “legal cockroaches” will agitate against Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Mishra at 10am on Thursday, August 20, and demand his resignation amid the row over enrolment of NALSAR University students.
Das said the protest has been called by the All India Young Advocates Association and affirmed his support for any form of peaceful protest that "seeks accountability and sets high standards for conduct in office."
CJP protest LIVE: NALSAR student body condemns BCI action
CJP protest LIVE: The Student Bar Council of NALSAR University of Law on Saturday condemned the Bar Council of India (BCI) over its now-withdrawn directive preventing state bar councils from enrolling the university’s 2026 graduates as advocates.
The elected student body also sought an apology from BCI Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra over what it described as objectionable remarks directed at students and faculty members, news agency PTI reported.
“These allegations are unprofessional, unfounded, and without any substance. Making such claims against members of the University family for mere peaceful expression of legitimate dissent is uncalled for and reeks of malice,” it alleged.
