SCBA Election | Supreme Court Suggests Creation Of Second Vice President Post From 2027 Onwards For Women

The Supreme Court today said that the earmarking of the post of Secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for women members will continue for the 2026 elections, while also proposing the creation of a second Vice-President post to be reserved for women from 2027 onwards.

“The SCBA and members of the bar who are present in court have graciously agreed that for the upcoming election for 2026-27 also, the earmarking of the post of Secretary for the women members of the Bar shall continue. Meanwhile, the General Body Meeting may be convened where the desirability of creation of one more post of Vice President be considered. Such second post of Vice President shall then be exclusively earmarked for the women members of the Bar from next from the year 2027-28 onwards”, the Court stated.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice KV Vishwanathan was hearing pleas concerning issues related to SCBA elections and reforms in the association.

The Court had earlier earmarked the post of Vice-President for women in the 2026 SCBA elections. However, today, the court modified that order and continued with the temporary arrangement followed last year, with the consensus of advocates appearing in the hearing.

The order was passed in a modification application, seeking reservation for women on the posts of President, Treasurer or Secretary. The CJI observed that today's order is being passed due to popular demand, as the members believe that the post of Secretary is more important.

The CJI remarked that the Court did not want anyone to feel unhappy or disappointed with the reforms which, till now, had proceeded largely through consensus and support from members of the Bar.

During the hearing, the CJI suggested that the SCBA consider creating a second post of Vice-President from next year, with one of the two posts being exclusively reserved for women members.

“The President should be assisted by two Vice Presidents. Nowadays, there is a very popular trend of having two Deputy Chief Ministers”, he remarked.

The CJI observed that many High Court Bar Associations already had two Vice-Presidents and said such a structure was desirable because the strength of the SCBA had increased substantially over the years.

He said that the Court would not impose changes immediately and wanted the general body of the Bar to first discuss the reforms. “We will do from next year only. Because the house should not feel, your general body should not feel that we have imposed certain thing. Meanwhile you have a discussion. But I promise you, before I retire that order will be passed”, he said.

The bench said that suggestions regarding creation of additional post of Joint Secretary earmarked for women members and inclusion of differently abled advocates in the reform process could be considered in the General Body Meeting.

The Court stressed the need for wider consultation within the Bar. The CJI said a General Body Meeting should be held under the guidance of very senior members so that all members could express their views and have a constructive discussion on the reforms.

He stressed that while the Court was passing orders with “very good reformative effects,” participation of the Bar was equally important.

Case no. – Diary No. 13992 of 2023

Case Title – Supreme Court Bar Association v. BD Kaushik