Supreme Court Issues Contempt Notice In BCI's Petition Against MP High Court Bar Association President

The Supreme Court of India has issued contempt notice on a petition filed by the Bar Council of India against Dhanya Kumar Jain, President, Madhya Pradesh High Court Bar Association over his criminal complaint addressed to police authorities making derogatory and contemptuous allegations.

As per BCI, Jain's allegations fall not only under professional misconduct but also invite action under Contempt of Court Act, 1971 read with Article 129 of the Constitution of India and the Rules to Regulate Proceedings for Contempt of the Supreme Court, 1975.

Allegedly Jain had written a complaint to the Superintendent of Police, Jabalpur levelling false allegations against BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra and the High Powered Election Committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge-Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia.

After the matter pertaining to office-bearers of the Bar Associations of High Courts, District Courts, or Sub-Divisional Courts can contest the State Bar Council elections, was adjudicated by the Supreme Court, Jain had circulated said document. In connection with eligibility of Bar Association office bearers to contest State Bar Council elections, Jain had also apparently made remarks in his letter against CJI Surya Kant. Among other things, he had cast aspersions on CJI's appointment of Justice Dhulia as the Committee head, accused the CJI of harboring ill-will against him and questioned the CJI bench's order for women reservation in Bar bodies as "misuse of judicial seat".

"Honorable Chief Justice, to conduct the elections of the State Bars Councils, had formed a committee under the chairmanship of his favorite former Chief Justice of India, Shri Sudhanshu Dhulia, to oblige him, in which many former Chief Justices and Senior Advocates were kept as members. It was decided that many of them would be given a hefty honorarium of four and a half lakh rupees per month from the State Bars Councils, many three and a half lakh rupees per month, and many two and a half lakh rupees per month, whereas the financial condition of the M.P. State Bars Councils is extremely poor. The advocates of the state do not get more than ten to fifteen thousand rupees even in serious illnesses. This is an open loot of the money of the state’s advocates being carried out by the Supreme Court, which has caused great resentment among the advocates of the entire state. Whereas previously, the former Chief Justices whose services were taken for conducting elections by our State Bars Councils were honored with a shawl and a coconut, giving them only 51,000 rupees for the entire election period. On the contrary, nowadays many judges, after retirement, are eager to become members of various commissions by pleading before the government for their financial benefit. Such money-grubbing judges have no concern for justice," the complaint filed by Jain stated.

In his complaint, Jain further alleged that BCI Chairman Manan Mishra, due to his selfish interests, did not conduct elections in many State Bars of the country for a long time, due to which, on the petition of the advocates, the Supreme Court, after hearing, passed an order to conduct elections in many states.

As per BCI, a bare perusal of the complaint document shows that there is no question of any offence being made out even if the contents of the said document are accepted to be correct. But more importantly, it adds, the contents of the said document makes it clear that the same has been filed only to undermine the election process.

A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi yesterday passed the contempt notice order, after hearing Senior Advocate Guru Krishna Kumar along with AoR Radhika Gautam appearing for BCI.

The bench has issued notice to Jain to show cause as to why criminal contempt proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act should not be initiated against him, why his Bar license should not be suspended and why he should not be removed from the post of office bearer of the Bar Association. The matter will now be taken up on July 27, 2026.

Case Title: Bar Council of India vs. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.

Bench: CJI Kant and Justice Bagchi

Hearing Date: April 30, 2026