Despite a recent Supreme Court directive, the Delhi High Court Bar Association refused to reserve four out of ten posts for women in its Executive Committee. The Supreme Court had urged the bar body to ensure better representation of women lawyers. However, the association has pushed back against the recommendation.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) General Assembly declined to pass a proposal that would implement reservation for women in its executive committee.
During a meeting held on Monday, presided over by DHCBA President and Senior Advocate Mohit Mathur, along with Secretary Sandeep Sharma, the Bar members gathered to vote on the matter.
However, when the proposal was put to a voice vote, a significant majority of male members vehemently opposed the motion, effectively overpowering the support from women lawyers who were in favour of the reservation.
Following the vote, Secretary Sandeep Sharma communicated the Association’s stance, stating,
“We are against any form of reservation for any position.”
This decision carries particular weight as it comes in direct contrast to recent recommendations made by the Supreme Court. The Court had advised the DHCBA to reserve at least 4 out of 10 seats, including the Treasurer’s position, for women candidates. The Supreme Court slated to revisit the issue on October 16, when it will further examine the reservation matter.
Currently, there are two petitions pending before the Supreme Court regarding the implementation of women’s reservations in the legal field. One petition calls for a directive to enforce 33% reservation for women in all bar elections across the district bar associations in the national capital. The other specifically seeks reservation for women within the DHCBA.
Read Also: Reservation for Women Lawyers in DHCBA|| Delhi HC Seeks Bar Associations’ Response
This debate unfolds in the lead-up to the upcoming elections for the Delhi Bar Council and all other Bar Associations in the national capital, scheduled for October 19, 2024. The outcome of these discussions and the Supreme Court’s ruling could set a crucial precedent for women’s representation within the legal profession.
A proposal to implement 33% reservation for women in all bar association elections has been put forward to enhance gender representation in the legal profession. The move aims to ensure that women lawyers hold at least one-third of the leadership positions in bar bodies across the country. Advocates of the proposal argue that it will promote greater equality and inclusivity within the legal community. If adopted, this measure could significantly impact bar elections and leadership structures nationwide.
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