In a historic move for Kerala’s legal fraternity, the Pala Bar Association has elected an all-women team as office bearers, setting a new benchmark for gender representation in legal institutions.
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KERALA: In a historic first for the legal fraternity in Kerala, the Pala Bar Association has elected an entirely women-led team to serve as its office bearers and executive committee members. This landmark decision marks a significant step toward gender inclusivity in legal institutions and sets a powerful precedent for bar associations across India.
The elections, which concluded recently, saw Advocate Usha Menon clinch a decisive victory in the race for the position of President, securing 163 votes, comfortably defeating her male opponent Advocate Josekutty Kuzhithottam, who received only 70 votes. The outcome reflects a strong endorsement from the legal community for women’s leadership and signals a growing shift towards gender-balanced representation in the profession.
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What makes this development truly path-breaking is that all 15 elected positions—including key roles such as Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Executive Committee Members—have been filled by women. This exceeds the Supreme Court’s existing directive on gender quotas, which mandates that at least one-third of all posts in legal bodies such as the Supreme Court Bar Association, Delhi High Court Bar Association, and the Karnataka Bar Council be reserved for women.
The Pala Bar Association, however, has voluntarily moved beyond these requirements by electing a 100% women-led panel, symbolizing a bold and progressive approach to leadership in the legal field. This initiative comes at a time when the Supreme Court of India is actively hearing matters related to the mandatory representation of women in legal institutions, amplifying the relevance and timeliness of this achievement.
This sweeping victory by women candidates not only breaks long-standing gender barriers but also serves as an inspiring model for other legal institutions to emulate. It underlines the evolving mindset within the legal profession—one that is gradually embracing inclusivity, equal opportunity, and the dismantling of patriarchal norms.
The Newly Elected Office Bearers of the Pala Bar Association
- President: Usha Menon Ushus
- Vice-President: Minimol Cyriac Valiyaveettil
- Secretary: Remya R Kakkanattu Ozhukayil
- Joint Secretary: Prejisha Jose Vathalloor
- Treasurer: Nisha Nirmala George Puthenpurackal
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Executive Committee Members
- Lady Representative: Asha Ravi Mulanjanikkunnel
- Junior Members:
- Deepa N. G. Njundanmakkal
- Irine Elisabeth B Moothasseril
- Senior Members:
- Gayathri Raveendran Vandannoor
- Maggi Balaram Ezhervayalil
- Manjusha K. G. Vadayattu
- Remya Rose George Perekkattu
- Sanju P. S. Sreenilayam
- Solimol Sebastian Eruvelikkunnel
- Tinu Scaria Pandiyammackal
As the country continues to grapple with issues of gender disparity in professional spaces, the Pala Bar Association’s bold move stands out as a beacon of progress. It is not merely a symbolic gesture but a transformative step towards restructuring institutional frameworks and empowering women to take on leadership roles in shaping the future of India’s legal system.
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