This Friday marks a significant milestone in the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) with women candidates competing for positions reserved exclusively for them in the executive committee elections. Following a Supreme Court directive on December 19, 2024, which established quotas for three specific posts, the legal community is poised for potentially transformative changes.
The reserved positions include treasurer, member executive (designated senior advocate), and member executive (25 years of standing), introduced on an experimental basis to promote gender inclusivity. Advocates Fozia Rehman, Aditi Chaudhary, and Shobha Gupta were instrumental in obtaining this landmark ruling from a bench led by Justice Surya Kant.
Advocate Zeba Khair, contending for the treasurer role, has pledged to address fund allocation with an emphasis on inclusivity. Her campaign focuses on enhancing facilities like the Delhi High Court’s creche to better support women lawyers with young children, and improving accessibility for differently-abled attorneys. “The treasurer must ensure that fund allocation benefits all members inclusively,” Khair stated.
Meanwhile, Advocate Nandita Abrol, running for a member executive position, aims to upgrade facilities in the women’s bar room and push for maternity benefits. “Women should receive remuneration post-childbirth. I will advocate for this,” Abrol asserted, underscoring the significance of the Supreme Court’s decision as a step forward.
The introduction of these reserved seats has been well-received across the board, with all four male presidential candidates endorsing the move. Senior advocates Kirti Uppal, Abhijat Bal, N Hariharan, and Vivek Sood have expressed support for greater female representation, recognizing it as a catalyst for introducing fresh perspectives and balancing the gender dynamics within the committee.
“This reservation will boost morale, but I also believe that all lawyers — male or female — should meet a certain bar of practice without discrimination,” Uppal commented, reflecting on the historical male dominance in the profession.
The election campaign has also seen a modern twist with candidates leveraging social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and WhatsApp to engage with voters, expanding the reach of their campaigns beyond traditional methods.
