Manan Kumar Mishra only pro tem BCI chairman till fresh election: SC
The Supreme Court of India has ruled that Manan Kumar Mishra can only serve as the pro tem chairman of the Bar Council of India until fresh elections are held. The court mandated that major policy decisions must now involve the Attorney General and Solicitor General to ensure institutional oversight.
Why it matters
This ruling clarifies the governance structure of a major legal regulatory body and limits the unilateral power of interim leadership.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said Bar Council of India (BCI) chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra was only a “pro tem Chairman” until a freshly constituted BCI elects its office-bearers, and directed that major policy decisions be taken in consultation with the Attorney General for India and the Solicitor General, who are permanent ex-officio BCI members.A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said Mishra could oversee the BCI's day-to-day functioning but could not be treated as a democratically elected office-bearer once the newly elected state bar councils complete the process of constituting a fresh BCI.“You should also bear in mind that you are like a pro tem chairman till a fresh election of the Bar Council of India, pursuant to the elections already conducted in the state bar councils, takes place,” Justice Bagchi told senior advocate Guru Krishnakumar, appearing for…
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