Supreme Court Issues Contempt Notice In BCI’s Petition Against MP High Court Bar Association President
The Supreme Court of India issued a criminal contempt notice to Advocate Dhanya Kumar Jain, President of the Madhya Pradesh High Court Bar Association (Jabalpur), on April 30, 2026, following a petition by the Bar Council of India (BCI).
BCI filed a writ petition alleging that Jain sent a complaint to the Superintendent of Police, Jabalpur, making false accusations against BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra and a High Powered Election Committee led by retired Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia. Jain also reportedly criticized Chief Justice Surya Kant in the letter, questioning his appointment of Justice Dhulia, accusing him of bias, and calling a Supreme Court order on women’s reservation in bar bodies a “misuse of judicial seat.” Additionally, he questioned the Supreme Court’s refusal to order an FIR against former Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Varma amid a cash recovery controversy at his residence.
A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard Senior Advocate Guru Krishna Kumar for BCI, who described the actions as “absolutely unfortunate.” Justice Bagchi remarked, “This is the restraint of a leader of advocates?” The bench issued a show-cause notice asking Jain why criminal contempt proceedings should not be initiated, his bar license suspended, or he be removed from his bar association post.
The court declined BCI’s request for an ex-parte order directing the state not to act on Jain’s complaint. The case is titled Bar Council of India vs. State of Madhya Pradesh and Ors., W.P.(Crl.) No. 157/2026. No further hearings or responses from Jain are reported as of May 2, 2026.
