Ensure 30 per cent quota for women lawyers in State Bar Councils, SC to BCI

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Bar Council of India (BCI) to ensure 30 per cent reservation for women in the upcoming State Bar Council elections. The top court, while hearing a petition seeking mandatory women’s representation in state bar councils, was told by the apex bar body BCI that implementing such reservation would require amendments to the Advocates Act.

“We expect that the BCI will construe the rules in such a manner that it will ensure 30 per cent reservation in State Bar Councils; such a position should also be available for some posts of office bearers,” said the bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.

When the lawyer for the BCI expressed uncertainty on whether a sufficient number of women lawyers would contest, the bench referred to a workshop held by the Supreme Court Bar Association based on a survey among women lawyers. “You were not there in yesterday’s workshop. 83 per cent of the women want to be members in the SCBA,” the CJI said.