The Supreme Court of India has taken a keen interest in the proceedings of the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) regarding women reservation within its executive body. The top court announced on Wednesday that it plans to review the video of the DHCBA’s general body meeting to assess the “quality and kind” of discussions surrounding the issue.
Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan highlighted the court’s intent to ensure that the proposal to reserve five posts for women in the 15-member executive committee was considered with appropriate deliberation. This inquiry follows the Supreme Court’s September 26 directive, which sought to enhance gender representation in the legal community.
Senior advocate Meenakshi Arora, representing the matter in court, reported that the general body meeting addressed the court’s order but ultimately rejected the proposal. She added that the bar body justified this rejection, prompting the Supreme Court to examine the deliberations more closely.
During the proceedings, senior advocate Mohit Mathur, president of the DHCBA, confirmed the recording of the meeting and informed the court of the upcoming elections scheduled for December 13. The justices expressed their intention to watch the meeting on a large screen in the courtroom on the coming Monday to personally verify the nature of the discussions.
The Supreme Court’s involvement stems from a plea advocating for a 33% reservation of seats for women in the DHCBA, emphasizing the need for equitable representation in legal bodies. The court had previously directed that the position of treasurer and one other office in the five-member body of the association be reserved for women, with further considerations for additional reservations.
This case underscores a broader push within the Indian judiciary to support gender equality in professional realms, particularly within the legal sector. By ensuring that discussions on such critical issues meet the standards of constitutional ethos and justice, the Supreme Court aims to set a precedent for all legal associations across the country.
