Supreme Court Issues Notice On Plea Seeking One-Third Reservation For Women In State Bar Councils

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice on a plea filed by advocate Shehla Chaudhary seeking reservation of one-third of seats for women in all State Bar Councils across India, including at least one office-bearer post on a rotational basis.“In the Constitution of India, the principle of gender equality has been enshrined in its preamble, fundamental rights, fundamental duties and the directive principles of state policy. In absence of women advocates not being members of the State Bar Councils, women Advocate continues to be deprived of opportunities to contribute to f the legal profession in a meaningful way”, the plea states.A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice and kept the matter on November 17, 2025.The plea relies on the Supreme Court's order dated May 2, 2024, wherein the Court directed that one-third of seats in the Executive Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), including one office-bearer post, be reserved for women.The petitioner has impleaded the Union of India, the Bar Council of India, and all State Bar Councils in the petition.The petition contends that the absence of such representation violates the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 15, 16 and 21 of the Constitution. It further adds, "Time and again woman, have managed to prove their worth as legal professional, but the legal profession is still seen as male dominated area wherein issues concerning women Advocates are rarely considered and one of the reasons is negligible representation of women Advocates in State Bar Councils & Bar Associations."The petition traces the historical struggle of women in the legal profession, highlighting that women were formally allowed to enter the legal profession only after the enactment of the Legal Practitioners (Women) Act, 1923.The petition highlights that women constitute only 2.04% of elected representatives in State Bar Councils. Out of 441 members across all councils, only nine are women. It highlights that several State Bar Councils – including those of Gujarat, Delhi, Maharashtra & Goa, Punjab & Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal – have no women members at all.The petition contends that the gross underrepresentation of women in State Bar Councils directly impacts policymaking in the legal profession and impedes the ability of these statutory bodies to address issues faced by women advocates.“to safeguard rights, privileges and interests of advocates, it is necessary to have an in-depth understanding of the issues faced by the advocates including women advocates who face certain issues distinct from their male colleagues. In the absence of any woman representation in a State Bar Council, there is a severe impediment in addressing concerns pertaining to women advocates; thereby there being no avenue for woman advocates to raise issues with regard to their welfare”, the plea states.It highlights that the State, empowered by Article 15(3), can make special provisions for women, and that similar reservations already exist for women in Parliament and State Legislatures, and in Panchayati Raj Institutions, Municipalities, and Cooperative Societies.It further states, “the section 3(23)[h] of the Advocates Act, 1961 outlines the system of proportional representation in State Bar Councils. The term proportional representation as employed in the statutes should, be understood as requiring the inclusion of unrepresented class of Advocates.”The petition prays for a direction reserve one-third of seats for women in all State Bar Councils, including at least one office-bearer post on a rotational basisThe petition was drawn by advocates Md. Anas Chaudhary and Alia Zaid and filed through Advocate-on-Record Ansar Ahmad Chaudhary. Dr. Charu Mathur argued the matter for the petitioner.Case no. – W.P.(C) No. 1060/2025Case Title – Shehla Chaudhary v. Union of IndiaClick Here To Read/Download Order

Supreme Court Issues Notice On Plea Seeking One-Third Reservation For Women In State Bar Councils

Amisha Shrivastava

Tags