In a significant step toward addressing gender disparity in the legal profession, the Supreme Court of India on Wednesday sought responses from the Centre, state governments, and Union Territories regarding a petition that demands a 30 percent reservation for women advocates on government legal panels.
A three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, issued notices after hearing arguments on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Ladli Foundation Trust. Senior advocate and Supreme Court Bar Association president Vikas Singh presented the submissions on behalf of the petitioner.
A Push for Representation Across All Legal Tiers
The PIL seeks sweeping directives for the Central government, state administrations, and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to establish a minimum 30 percent representation for female lawyers.
If granted, this quota would apply across the entire government litigation framework, including:
- Supreme Court and high court panels
- Government law officer positions
- Legal aid panels
- Central and state government empanelments
- Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) empanelments
Overcoming “Structural Barriers”
The petition highlights a stark contrast in the legal sector: while women are enrolling in law schools in record numbers, they continue to face steep hurdles once they enter the workforce. According to the plea, deep-seated “structural barriers” remain a major roadblock to the professional advancement of female lawyers.
To counter these obstacles, the Ladli Foundation Trust filed the PIL under Article 32 of the Constitution, which permits citizens to seek the enforcement of fundamental rights. The plea argues that a guaranteed 30 percent reservation is essential to secure and enforce key constitutional protections, specifically referencing:
- Article 14: Equality before law
- Article 15(3): Special provisions enabling the state to make positive discrimination for women
- Article 19(1)(g): The right to practice any profession
- Article 21: The protection of life and personal liberty
By issuing notices, the Supreme Court has set the stage for a formal response from federal and state governments on how they plan to address gender representation within public legal appointments.
