The Supreme Court urged the Delhi High Court Bar Association to propose effective solutions for women’s reservation in its elections, with options due by December 17. While elections won’t be delayed, the court stressed the importance of proactive measures for gender inclusion, examining earlier proposals for reserved posts on December 19.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday urged the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) to propose “pragmatic” and “salutary” solutions for implementing women’s reservation in its elections for office bearers. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan emphasized that the DHCBA should set an example for other bar associations in the national capital.
The bench directed senior advocate Mohit Mathur, DHCBA president, to present various options for an amicable resolution by December 17, with the matter set to be considered by the court on December 19.
“Mr. Mohit Mathur, please get it resolved amicably and immediately. We are taking this matter next week. We have said that we are not staying the bar association election,”
the bench stated.
The court clarified that while elections would not be stayed, it expected the DHCBA to take proactive steps to address women’s reservation.
Previously, the Supreme Court reviewed video clips submitted by Mathur detailing discussions from a general body meeting on the 33% reservation proposal. The court sought to evaluate whether the proposal to reserve five posts for women in the 15-member executive body was rejected after due deliberations.
“The general body of the bar association shall consider to reserve the post of the treasurer exclusively for the women members of the bar association,”
the court had directed earlier. It further suggested reserving at least one additional office-bearer post and ensuring that three out of 10 executive members are women, with one senior designated advocate among them.
Senior advocates Sanjay Jain and Vijay Hansaria highlighted concerns that the ongoing deliberations might delay elections for other bar bodies in the city. Hansaria emphasized,
“No one is opposed to reserving seats for women members in the DHCBA, but the decision should not be a ruse to delay the elections to 13 other bar bodies.”
The Supreme Court’s earlier orders have underscored the need to enhance women’s representation at the bar. On May 2, the court mandated reserving 33% of posts for women in the executive committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).
The matter, which holds significant implications for gender inclusion in the legal profession, will be revisited by the Supreme Court on December 19.
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