# Bombay Bar Association demands BCI chairman Mishra’s resignation over NALSAR row

2026-08-19T21:41:45+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

The Bombay Bar Association has called for the resignation of Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, saying his apology over a freeze on NALSAR University law student enrolments was "belated" and not a true expression of remorse. The BBA said Mishra should have resigned after his August 13 directive, which was withdrawn the same day following backlash. Mishra apologised on August 15. The All India Young Advocates Association has called a protest outside the BCI office in New Delhi on Thursday at 10 am demanding Mishra's resignation. Cockroach Janta Party spokesperson Saurav Das has voiced support, saying "legal cockroaches have united" for the demonstration. The row began after NALSAR students opposed inviting Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to their convocation. CJI Surya Kant had told the BCI it had "no business" interfering in the matter.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

The three sources report the same events but with a clear framing divide. Siasat.com leads with the Bombay Bar Association's strongest condemnation and the protest call, giving it a government-critical tone. Times Now and Hindustan Times lead with the protest and the CJP spokesperson Saurav Das, respectively, framing the story through the political spectacle of the 'Cockroach Janta Party' rather than the substantive legal ethics issue. All three omit any quote from Mishra defending his position. The middle ground is that multiple bar bodies have condemned Mishra's action, but the news coverage is split between treating it as a serious professional misconduct story and as political street theatre. Watch whether the Thursday protest actually draws significant numbers and whether the Bar Council initiates any internal action against its chairman.

## Coverage

Coverage: 3 sources, 1 government-critical, 1 neutral, 1 sensationalist
- siasat.com (government critical) <https://www.siasat.com/ought-to-have-resigned-bombay-bar-association-on-bci-chairman-3527565/>
  Leads with resignation demand and strongest condemnation, foregrounds BBA calling apology 'belated' and 'abuse of office'
- timesnownews.com (sensationalist) <https://www.timesnownews.com/india/legal-cockroaches-unite-cjp-backs-protest-against-bci-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-article-155787236>
  Leads with CJP protest announcement, frames story as spectacle of 'legal cockroaches' uniting against Mishra
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/protest-by-legal-cockroaches-against-bar-council-chairman-manan-mishra-at-10-am-tomorrow-cjp-saurav-das-dipke-nalsar-101787154094136.html>
  Leads with CJP protest, quotes Mishra's apology and CJI's rebuke, adds context on NLSIU objections

This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources. Last updated 2026-08-19T23:45:58+00:00.

Tags: All India Young Advocates Association, Bar Council of India, Bombay Bar Association, Manan Kumar Mishra, NALSAR University
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