Supreme Court directs Delhi lawyers bodies to work out women's representation in their governing bodies

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) and bar bodies of the district courts in the national capital to jointly work out a “structured” and “institutionalised” mechanism for representation of women in their governing bodies for the 2027 Bar elections [Fozia Rahman vs. Bar Council of Delhi and Anr.].

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana directed that the Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations of Delhi, in consultation with the DHCBA and other bar bodies, to come out with a proposal reflecting an "all-acceptable solution."

The Court granted six weeks for consultations to ensure that any impediments or bottlenecks arising during deliberations are discussed and resolved well in time.

The Bench told the DHCBA that the matter was one of its leadership, statesmanship, stewardship and "a question of prestige."

The Court also expressed confidence that the coordination committee would arrive at a workable solution.

"We have no reason to doubt that the coordination committee will come out with an all-acceptable solution, which shall be a structured, institutionalised representation mechanism, so that repeated orders are not required to be passed by this Court," the Court said in its order.

The Court passed the order on a petition filed by advocate Fozia Rahman seeking reservation for women lawyers in the DHCBA.

On December 19, 2024, the top court had passed interim directions reserving, on an experimental basis, the post of treasurer for women across all Delhi bar associations and one post of designated senior member executive for women in the DHCBA. The Court had also reserved 30 percent of executive committee posts for women in all Delhi district court bar associations on an experimental basis.

The Court then had underlined the constitutional mandate for women's representation in governance drawing a parallel with panchayats and other local self-government bodies and held that the same principle should extend to the legal fraternity.

Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra appeared for the petitioner.

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