What happened (BCI Trust PEARL-FIRST dispute)
A leadership dispute within the Bar Council of India (BCI) concerns the creation and management of BCI Trust PEARL-FIRST and allegations about BCI fund transfer, contributions, and audit disclosure.
BCI co-chairman and senior advocate Y.R. Sadasiva Reddy sent a six-page letter dated August 22 making multiple allegations about PEARL-FIRST and BCI funds:
Alleged issues in how PEARL-FIRST was created.Alleged transfer of about ₹150 crore from BCI funds to the trust.Alleged demands for contributions from law colleges, ranging from ₹25 lakh to ₹1 crore.Alleged handling of funds generated through the All-India Bar Examination (AIBE).Reddy stated he opposed the ₹150 crore transfer and said other members recorded objections, but the transfer proceeded.Reddy alleged PEARL-FIRST audit reports were never placed before BCI meetings since PEARL-FIRST’s start in 2020, and he said he has never seen those audit reports.
BCI chair Manan Kumar Mishra rejected Reddy’s allegations. Mishra’s rebuttal included the following points:
Mishra disputed Reddy’s standing, stating that Reddy is not actually a co-chairman and is not a member of a State Bar Council.Mishra characterised the allegations as “frivolous and baseless”.Mishra stated that everything is audited annually by a certified chartered accountant.Mishra portrayed Reddy as politically opposed.