Delhi HC Seeks Input on 33% Women Lawyers' Quota in Bar Associations

The Delhi High Court has called for responses from various legal bodies regarding a petition to reserve 33% of seats for women lawyers in elections. The hearing is scheduled for August 12, with the plea emphasizing the need for greater representation of women in leadership roles within the legal profession.

The Chief bench of the Delhi High Court, on Thursday, directed the Bar Council of India (BCI), Bar Council of Delhi (BCD), Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA), and all district courts' Bar Associations to submit responses to a petition seeking a 33 per cent reservation for women lawyers in elections.

The Division Bench, led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, issued notices to the aforementioned Bar Associations. The petition demands reservation of seats for women in the upcoming Bar Council of Delhi elections, the Delhi High Court Bar Association, and all District Bar Associations in Delhi/New Delhi.

The detailed hearing in this matter has been scheduled for August 12. Senior Advocate Pinki Anand, representing the petitioners, noted that the Supreme Court recently reserved seats for women in the Supreme Court Bar Association Election 2024 to ensure female representation.

The plea, filed by advocates Shobha Gupta and Sanskriti Shakuntala Gupta, argued that despite the growing number of women in the legal profession, leadership roles remain predominantly male-dominated. It highlighted the lack of recognition for women lawyers' contributions.

Since India's independence, no woman has held significant positions like Chairperson of the Bar Council of Delhi. The situation is similar in other Bar Associations. The plea stressed the necessity for women representatives to address issues specific to female lawyers effectively.

The plea also referenced the Women Reservation Act of 2023, which aims to ensure women's representation in Indian Parliament. Despite facing numerous challenges, women have shown their political potential, occupying key leadership roles at the national level.

(With inputs from agencies.)