Alok Singh
The Supreme Court of India, on 19 December 2024 (Thursday), introduced reservations for women in Bar Associations across Delhi on an experimental basis.
This decision was made by a Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan in the case of Fozia Rahman v. Bar Council of Delhi and Anr. wherein the aim was to address the less-representation of women in leadership roles within legal bodies.
The Court’s order reserves the Treasurer’s post in all Delhi Bar Associations for women. In the DHCBA, one Executive Committee position for a Designated Senior Member is reserved for women. At the same time, the District Bar Associations will now have 30% of Executive Committee posts reserved for women, including existing reservations.
These measures are set to be implemented during the upcoming elections in Bar Associations across Delhi.
The Supreme Court emphasised the historical lack of female representation, mentioning that no woman has ever served as President of the DHCBA since its inception in 1962.
This move follows a similar directive earlier this year, where the Supreme Court mandated a 33% reservation for women in the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) elections. Positions such as Treasurer and Senior Executive Members were included, although the President’s role remained unreserved.
The Supreme Court has appointed former Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court, Siddharth Mridul, as Amicus Curiae to compile data on women’s representation in bar associations nationwide, providing a foundation for broader policy decisions.
Case Name: Fozia Rahman v. Bar Council of Delhi & Anr.
Case Number: SLP (C): 24485/2024
Bench: Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan