SCBA President assures Delhi High Court it will hold meeting in 2 months to discuss reservation for women lawyers in EC

Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Adish Aggarwala on Thursday assured the Delhi High Court that a general body meeting will be convened in two months to discuss amending the SCBA rules to reserve at least two posts in the Executive Committee for women lawyers..SCBA President, Adish Aggarwala also submitted that two months of time would be needed to convene the meeting since notice will have to be sent to the nearly 20,000 members of the SCBA..In view of this submission, Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain today disposed of a plea by a woman lawyer who had urged the Court to direct SCBA to convene such a meeting..The plea before the Court was filed by advocate Yogamaya MG, who said that she had earlier written a letter to Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, besides writing to the President of the SCBA seeking the conduct of a SCBA general body meeting to discuss the matter. .The representation urged the SCBA to nominate two members in the current Executive Committee and consider amending the SCBA rules and regulations to ensure at least two positions for female executive Members.However, no acknowledgement or response was received. Therefore, advocate Yogamaya urged the High Court to direct the SCBA to convene a meeting..In her plea, the lawyer submitted that even though eleven women members had participated in the election for post of Executive Committee member in 2023, not even one could be elected.The plea contended that the absence of adequate representation of women lawyers may perpetuate an environment where issues related to sexual harassment are not adequately addressed.The petitioner asserted that women lawyers, when adequately represented, can contribute to the formulation and implementation of policies and mechanisms designed to prevent and redress instances of sexual harassment within the legal community. It was also argued that women's insights and perspectives are essential for developing comprehensive strategies that resonate with the diverse experiences of all members..Justice Subramonium Prasad had, on February 21, recused from hearing the plea citing his SCBA membership when he was a lawyer..The petition was filed through advocates Bineesh Karat, Nandana Menon and Anjitha Santosh. Advocate Sriram Parakkat appeared for the petitioner.