Pranav Shukla
A petition has been submitted to the Supreme Court on 16 December, 2024, requesting a 33% reservation for women in the Bar Associations Gujarat. A Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan has issued a notice regarding the matter and has scheduled the hearing in January 2025.
The Court questioned the petitioner, Advocate Meena A. Jagtap, why she opted to rely on a male lawyer to represent her side instead of arguing it herself, especially since her plea focused on advocating for greater representation of women in Bar Associations.
During the hearing, Jagtap openly shared her difficulties, mentioning her limited command on English and lack of experience practicing in higher courts. She also highlighted her role as the leader of an NGO supporting destitute individuals.
The Court acknowledged and praised the responsibilities women often juggle with such as managing households, teaching, and pursuing professional careers. It further encouraged Jagtap to make more frequent appearances before the High Court.
“We take pride in the fact that women in our country manage numerous responsibilities, whether as homemakers, teachers, lawyers, or in many other roles. Why don’t you appear more often in the High Court? You should. In any case, you are always welcome to approach the High Court as well.”, the Court said.
Recognizing the issues brought forward, the Supreme Court agreed to issue a notice and scheduled the case for a hearing in January 2025.
Bench – Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan