The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the objections raised to the co-option of Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice Jaishree Thakur as a member of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana..A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of the objection while hearing matters concerning the implementation of its directives for the co-option of women members in State Bar Councils.A counsel pointed out that Justice Thakur was the returning officer for the Punjab and Haryana Bar Council elections."In the Punjab and Haryana Bar Council, the Returning Officer herself has been nominated as a member," the counsel began to submit.The Court, however, was prompt to dismiss such objections."What is the problem with you people? One of the finest judges and the strongest judges has been nominated for Punjab. They are so happy that she is there. People are afraid of her," remarked CJI Kant..By an order passed on December 8, 2025 in the case of Yogamaya MG vs. Union of India and others, the top court had directed that women should have 30 per cent representation in State Bar Councils, with 20 per cent of such seats to be filled through election and 10 per cent through co-option.On August 4 this year, the Court also laid down the mechanism for the 10 per cent co-option component. It directed that two women be co-opted from among former women judges of the jurisdictional High Court or senior women members of the Bar having fair standing and belonging to the concerned State or Union Territory.In light of these directives, the Punjab and Haryana High Court recently nominated former Justice Jaishree Thakur and Senior Advocate Gursharan Kaur Mann as members of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana..[Read Live Coverage]
