BCI chief Mishra under fire after NALSAR ban creates row

The Times of India reports that Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Kumar Mishra is facing scrutiny after the regulator briefly barred 2026 law graduates from Hyderabad's NALSAR University of Law from registering as advocates, then withdrew the decision within hours. The Supreme Court observed that BCI had no business intervening in the matter, as the Advocates Act, 1961 does not give it power to enrol advocates, that authority lies with state bar councils.

Mishra, a senior advocate and BJP MP who has headed BCI for 14 years, has previously said that 35-40% of advocates have fake degrees and practice on fabricated certificates. Critics see this as evidence the regulator has failed in its duty. BCI also faces repeated Supreme Court ire for not curbing strikes by lawyers and for allowing law colleges that effectively sell degrees without requiring students to attend classes.