Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) co-convener Saurav Das has called for the resignation of Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Kumar Mishra following the Supreme Court’s criticism of the Council’s intervention in the NALSAR University of Law enrolment row.
Das linked his demand to observations made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, who questioned the BCI’s decision to intervene after students at NALSAR protested against the proposed participation of the CJI as chief guest at the university’s convocation.
“Moral responsibility commands that Manan Kumar Mishra resigns. Cockroaches both inside and outside courts should ensure this happens,” Das said in a post on the microblogging site X.
CJI Questions BCI’s Role In NALSAR Row
A Supreme Court bench with CJI Kant, Justices Joymalya
Bagchi and V Mohana, is hearing a petition that seeks safeguards against the BCI issuing similar directions in the future. The bench has sought the Council’s response and directed it to submit its counter-affidavit within two weeks.
The issue came before the court after senior advocate K Parameshwar challenged the BCI’s intervention in the university dispute. He submitted that the Council had no jurisdiction to interfere in the functioning of a university and argued that the action affected students’ constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression.
CJI Kant strongly questioned the Council’s approach, saying students cannot be prevented from protesting when they have legitimate concerns.
“The BCI is unnecessarily taking action in this matter. If students have a cause or a reason to protest, they have a right to protest. Nobody can stop them, and we will not allow this,” the CJI had said.
The court also rejected the idea of punitive action against students or teachers involved in the dispute. It has restrained the BCI and state bar councils from initiating criminal or other punitive proceedings against students and faculty members of national law universities or other universities over the matter.
During the hearing, CJI Kant also defended direct communication with the students who had approached him over the issue.
“We are with you. This is absolutely uncalled for. They had no business to interfere. The students have written a letter to me, and it is between me and the students. There is a dialogue between us,” he said.
How The Row Began
The dispute followed opposition from a group of NALSAR students to the proposed appearance of CJI Kant as chief guest at the university’s convocation.
In response to the campaign, the BCI had directed state bar councils to keep the enrolment of NALSAR’s 2026 law graduates on hold until further orders. The Council had also sought an authenticated report from the university identifying students accused of initiating, organising, coordinating or mobilising the campaign against the CJI.
The BCI subsequently withdrew the enrolment directive within hours after it triggered criticism.
The matter then moved to the Supreme Court, where the BCI’s intervention came under sharp scrutiny. The court’s observations have now prompted Das to put forward the demand for Mishra’s resignation.
To see his demand get fulfilled, Das added in his X post, “Cockroaches both inside and outside courts should ensure this happens.”
