Kerala Bar Association Breaks New Ground with All-Women Executive Team

In a groundbreaking moment for gender representation in the legal field, the Pala Bar Association in Kerala has elected an all-women team as its office bearers and executive committee members, marking the first such instance in its history and setting a precedent for bar associations across the country.

The election, which concluded recently, saw Advocate Usha Menon emerge victorious as President, securing 163 votes against her male opponent Advocate Josekutty Kuzhithottam, who received 70 votes. The panel elected comprises 15 women who will serve in various leadership roles within the association.

This landmark development gains further significance in light of ongoing legal efforts to enhance women’s participation in bar associations. The Supreme Court of India is currently hearing matters related to mandated representation of women in legal bodies. In a key order passed last year, the Court had directed that at least one-third of all posts in the Supreme Court Bar Association be reserved for women, a direction that was subsequently extended to other bodies like the Delhi High Court Bar Association and the Karnataka Bar Council.

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However, the Pala Bar Association has gone a step beyond this mandated quota by electing a 100% women-led team, thereby setting a powerful example for gender-inclusive leadership in the legal profession.

The full list of elected members is as follows:

• President: Usha Menon Ushus
  
• Vice-President: Minimol Cyriac Valiyaveettil
  
• Secretary: Remya R Kakkanattu Ozhukayil
  
• Joint Secretary: Prejisha Jose Vathalloor
  
• Treasurer: Nisha Nirmala George Puthenpurackal
  
• Executive Committee Member (Lady Representative): Asha Ravi Mulanjanikkunnel
  
• Executive Committee Members (Juniors):
  
  1. Deepa N. G. Njundanmakkal
     
  2. Irine Elisabeth B Moothasseril
     
• Executive Committee Members (Seniors):
  
  1. Gayathri Raveendran Vandannoor
     
  2. Maggi Balaram Ezhervayalil
     
  3. Manjusha K. G. Vadayattu
     
  4. Remya Rose George Perekkattu
     
  5. Sanju P. S. Sreenilayam
     
  6. Solimol Sebastian Eruvelikkunnel
     
  7. Tinu Scaria Pandiyammackal