Delhi High Court Issues Notice On Plea To Reserve 33% Seats For Women Lawyers In Lawyers' Bodies Elections

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice on a plea seeking reservation of 33% of seats for women lawyers in the elections of Bar Council of Delhi (BCD), Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) and All District Bar Associations in the national capital.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela sought response of the lawyers bodies and listed the matter for hearing on August 12.

The plea has been Advocate Shobha Gupta, who contends that the under­ representation of women in effective posts in BCD and other Bar associations can negatively affect women's rights and access to justice as well as detract from the justice system's overall effectiveness.

Senior Advocate Pinky Anand appearing for Gupta submitted that the Supreme Court in May passed an order reserving one third of seats for women lawyers in the Executive Committee of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) elections.

She stated that issues of women lawyers in the Bar can be well understood and emphasised by women representatives.

Anand contended that the only post designated for women lawyers is lady member executive and that they are not part of effective decisions.

Advocate Tanoodbhav Singhdev appeared for BCD.

The plea submits that despite the increasing number of women lawyers, they have not been able to make their representation effective on the post of prestigious Council or bar associations because of various professional obstacles.

It states that reservation of 33% seats in the lawyers bodies will ensure equal representation of all women lawyers and will also provide them equal opportunity to grow and address their grievances.

“Because for 64 years since its establishment, women's representation in the Bar Council of Delhi, Delhi High Court Bar Association and District Bar Associations has been completely absent. During this time, Only two female lawyers were part of the Delhi Bar Council, none of whom held positions such as Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, or Secretary. A similar situation exists in the Delhi High Court and District Bar Association. This highlights the clear dominance and inequality towards women lawyers within the Bar Council of Delhi,” the plea read.

Title: Shobha Gupta Advocate v. Bar Council of Delhi & Ors.