Supreme Court Earmarks SCBA Vice President Post For Women In 2026 Election

In a progressive step towards inclusivity, the Supreme Court today earmarked the post of Vice President in the 2026 Supreme Court Bar Association's Executive Committee elections for women advocates.

A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice KV Viswanathan passed the order, earmarking the post of VP, alongwith other EC posts, for women advocates in the impending 2026 elections of the SCBA.

It further directed that the incumbent SCBA EC shall notify the Election Committee for this year by 29 May. Thereafter, the Election Committee shall notify the election schedule by 13 July (when court will reopen).

"The election process shall be completed and results declared by [...] August", the Court said. It added that the newly appointed Executive Committee shall takeover on August 7.

The order was passed after the SCBA, represented by Senior Advocate Vikas Singh (also the SCBA President), agreed to earmarking of the said post. Notably, the graciousness of the SCBA was appreciated by the bench, with CJI Kant observing that the SCBA has never opposed the suggestions of the Court. The CJI also noted that SCBA sets an example for the entire country and has been leading by example.

Prior to this, the Court had directed reservation of the posts of Treasurer and Secretary for women advocates. For this year, remarking that there should be a "progression", the Court decided to earmark the post of Vice President. It was also told during the hearing that there has never been a woman President of the SCBA.

It may be recalled that in 2024, the Supreme Court directed implementation of a minimum 1/3rd women's reservation in the posts of the SCBA "henceforth", including the ensuing elections (2024-2025). It further directed that in the 2024-25 elections, the post of Treasurer shall be reserved for a woman candidate.

At the time, the Court also directed a minimum of 1/3rd of women's reservation in the junior executive committee (3 out of 9) and in the senior executive committee (2 out of 6) of the SCBA.

Over the past two years, the post of Treasurer and 30% Executive Committee/Governing Council posts were similarly earmarked for women advocates in High Court and District Bar Associations across the country.

Recently, the CJI bench also directed that the post of Secretary and Joint Treasurer, as well as two Executive Members posts, may be earmarked for women AoRs in this year's SCAORA elections.

Appearance: Senior Advocates Vikas Singh, Vijay Hansaria, Rahul Kaushik, Shobha Gupta and Gaurav Bhatia; AoRs Pragya Baghel, Shashank Shekhar and Kumud Lata Das

Case Title: Supreme Court Bar Association v. BD Kaushik | Diary No. 13992 of 2023