In a significant push toward gender representation in the legal profession, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Bar Council of India (BCI) to take steps to ensure 30 percent reservation for women in the upcoming state bar council elections.
The direction came during a hearing on petitions filed by advocates Yogamaya M.G. and Shehla Chaudhary, who sought mandatory reservation of one-third seats for women in all state bar councils and a rotational reservation for at least one office-bearer post.
Appearing for the BCI, senior advocate Gurukumar informed a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi that amendments to the Advocates Act may be required to formally implement such a reservation policy. He also pointed out that election procedures in several states had already begun, making immediate enforcement difficult.
The bench, however, indicated its expectation clearly.
“We expect that the BCI will construe the rules in such a manner that it will ensure 30 percent reservation in State Bar Councils; such a position should also be available for some posts of office bearers,” said the Chief Justice.
When concerns were raised about whether enough women lawyers would be willing to contest, the court drew attention to recent feedback from the bar. Referring to a workshop conducted by the Supreme Court Bar Association, CJI Surya Kant remarked, “You were not there in yesterday’s workshop. Eighty-three percent of the women want to be members in the SCBA.”
The plea relies on the Supreme Court’s earlier order dated May 2, 2024, which mandated that one-third of seats in the executive committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association—including at least one office-bearer post—be reserved for women.
