'Old Boys Club' : CJI DY Chandrachud Calls For More Women Representation In Bar Associations

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Friday expressed concern over the poor representation of women in elected Bar Associations and Bar Councils in the country despite an unprecedented surge in the number of women joining the bar and establishing thriving practices.

Justice Chandrachud, during his address at the Centenary Year Celebration of the High Court Bar Association Nagpur, said that the male office bearers had the responsibility to ensure a fair chance to women lawyers, and urged women lawyers to come forward and contest elections.

“It is not enough to remove formal barriers to women lawyers in contesting elections. It is the responsibility of the existing male office bearers to not only encourage female lawyers who stand for elections but also make environment conducive for the women to stand a fair chance. I am optimistic that the HCBA Nagpur will take a proactive measure in this direction. I also urge all women advocates to assert their position in the Bar Association, come forward, contest elections and hold positions of responsibility.”

Citing a study conducted in 2021, he said that mere 2.04% of the elected representatives in the 21 state bar councils are women, with no female office bearers. Further, there is only one female member in the Supreme Court Bar Association. Justice Chandrachud attributed this disparity to the old boys club mentality prevailing within the legal fraternity, which often discourages women from contesting elections and holding positions of responsibility.

“Contesting elections requires extensive networking, campaigning and soliciting of votes which often leads to the formation and perpetuation of an entrenched old boys club. This environment can act as a significant disincentive for women discouraging them from participating in the elections, let alone engaging in campaigns and successfully winning them.”

Highlighting the transformation in the demographics of the legal profession, Justice Chandrachud noted the significant increase in the number of women lawyers practicing across the country over the last few decades.

“The number of women lawyers practicing across the country has increased manifold over the last few decades. There was a time where advocates would come to High Court and Supreme court and only see a sea of men. Many female lawyers recall a time when they were the only one in security line for women while there was a long queue for men.”

Justice Chandrachud referred to recent designation of 11 women lawyers as senior advocates and said that the number of women legal practitioners will keep increasing.

“Recently the Supreme Court designated 11 women lawyers as senior advocates in one go signaling the change in demographic of successful lawyers. In the Nagpur bar, more that 500 out of 3000 members are women. As the demographics are changing in the profession and more young women are entering the field, this number will only increase.”

Addressing the need for proactive measures to address the gender imbalance in elected bodies, the Chief Justice urged existing male office bearers to create a conducive environment that enables women lawyers to have a fair chance at contesting and winning elections.