AGARTALA | AUGUST 21, 2026: Joining the nationwide agitation called by the legal fraternity, the Tripura State Committee of the All India Lawyers Union (AILU) staged a demonstration outside the West Gate of the Agartala District & Sessions Court on Friday, demanding the immediate removal of Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra.
Key Grievances & Demands
- Autocratic Decision-Making: AILU leaders alleged that authority within the Bar Council of India has become excessively centralized under a single individual, undermining collective governance and statutory democratic norms.
- Controversial Directive Against NALSAR Students: Protesting advocates highlighted the August 13 directive withholding enrollment/registration for the 2026 batch of the prestigious National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), terming it an arbitrary attack on law graduates.
- Remarks on Student Movements: Demonstrators condemned recent statements made by the BCI leadership regarding student-led academic movements, calling them irresponsible and detrimental to institutional independence.
- Protection of Statutory Autonomy: The union demanded immediate institutional reforms to safeguard the independence, democratic character, and collective decision-making framework of the Bar Council of India.
Movement Nationwide Context
The protest in Agartala was part of a coordinated countrywide demonstration by advocate associations seeking transparency and accountability within the apex regulatory body for legal education and practice in India.
