Madras HC co-opts former judge, lawyer as women members of State Bar Council

The Madras High Court on Monday nominated retired Justice VM Velumani and advocate Sudarshana Sundar as two women members to be co-opted into the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

The nominations were made by Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, Justice SA Dharmadhikari after consultation with the elected members of the State Bar Council, a communication issued by the High Court Registrar General Deepthi Arivunithi said.

Justice Velumani had served as a judge of the Madras High Court before being transferred to the Calcutta High Court, from where she retired in April 2024.

The move follows the Supreme Court’s August 4 order in Yogamaya MG v Union of India, along with connected proceedings, concerning the representation of women advocates in State Bar Councils. The Court had empowered Chief Justices of the respective High Courts to nominate two women members to the State Bar Councils.

The apex court’s directions came against the backdrop of concerns over inadequate representation of women in the elected bodies governing the legal profession. The Court’s mechanism envisaged co-option of women members, with the process involving consultation with elected members of the respective State Bar Councils.

The High Court had earlier, through a letter dated August 21, placed the matter before the Chief Justice after the Supreme Court directions. The Chief Justice subsequently directed that a meeting be convened on August 24, following which the nominations were finalised.

The Registrar General has now requested the Secretary of the Bar Council to take necessary further steps to give effect to the nominations.