Supreme Court Issues Criminal Contempt Notice To Madhya Pradesh 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), following a petition by the Bar Council of India (BCI).
Jain allegedly filed a complaint with the Superintendent of Police, Jabalpur, making false and derogatory allegations against BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra and a High-Powered Election Committee led by retired Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia.
He also reportedly questioned Chief Justice Surya Kant’s decisions, including the appointment of Justice Dhulia and a Supreme Court order on women’s reservation in bar bodies, calling it a “misuse of judicial seat.”
A bench led by CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard Senior Advocate Guru Krishna Kumar for the BCI, who described the conduct as “absolutely unfortunate.”
The court issued notice to Jain, requiring him to show cause why criminal contempt proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act should not start, his bar license be suspended, or he be removed from his bar office-bearer role.
The matter is titled Bar Council of India vs. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors. (W.P.(Crl.) No. 157/2026). This incident relates to broader tensions over bar elections and eligibility, but stems directly from Jain’s police complaint rather than prior lawyer strikes involving Madhya Pradesh bar leaders.
