The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Supreme Court Bar Association to reserve at least one-third of posts in the executive committee elections of SCBA for female advocates.
The Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice KV Viswanathan ordered the SCBA to include six women lawyers in its executive committee this year, including three as executive members, two as senior executive members, and one as the SCBA Treasurer.
The Apex Court exempted the post of SCBA President from its order.
Earlier, the Delhi High Court had dealt with a similar matter.
On February 29, 2024, SCBA President Adish Aggarwala assured the High Court that a general body meeting will be convened in two months to discuss amending the SCBA rules to reserve at least two posts in the executive committee for women lawyers.
The assurance came on a petition filed by Advocate Yogamaya MG seeking directions to the SCBA to convene a meeting and discuss the issue.
The petitioner submitted that she had earlier written to Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud to suggest an amendment in the SCBA Rules to ensure at least two positions were earmarked for women lawyers in the executive committee of SCBA.
Yogamaya contended before the High Court that such an amendment was crucial to ensure inclusivity and diversity in the SCBA and to promote gender equality.
She said the absence of adequate representation of women lawyers may perpetuate an environment where issues related to sexual harassment were not properly addressed.
The SCBA President then apprised the High Court that it would need at least two months to convene a general body meeting to discuss the issue since the notice would have to be sent to nearly 20,000 members of SCBA.
The High Court had then disposed of the petition after taking note of the SCBA President’s assurance.