Today, On 6th April, Supreme Court has ordered SCBA elections to be held on May 20, with the Secretary post reserved for women. The Court also said it won’t allow any challenge to the election reform report.
The Calcutta High Court upheld the Local Complaints Committee’s dismissal of a sexual harassment complaint against Dr. Nirmal Kanti Chakraborti, Vice Chancellor of NUJS. The court noted the complaint was time-barred and the allegations did not constitute sexual harassment under the POSH Act, affirming that decisions by the Executive Committee were not solely his responsibility.
Today, On 19th December, The Supreme Court ordered a 30% reservation for women in Delhi bar associations on a trial basis. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan gave this decision after hearing petitions asking for up to 33% women’s quota in these groups. The goal is to improve gender balance in the legal field. The results of this order will be carefully observed.
The Supreme Court on Monday(18th Nov) criticized the Delhi High Court Bar Association’s handling of women’s reservation petitions, urging a 33% quota. Despite prior recommendations for women’s positions, recent resolutions were rejected amid vocal opposition from a male-dominated meeting. The Court plans to address the issue further on November 29, amid ongoing litigation.
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), led by President Kapil Sibal, criticized the Supreme Court’s unilateral decisions regarding alterations to the Lady Justice statue and emblem without consultation. The SCBA expressed ignorance about the changes’ rationale and opposed the establishment of a museum in the former Judges’ Library, advocating instead for a library and café for members.
Today, On 14th October, the Supreme Court dismissed a Special Leave Petition from the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust regarding land acquisition by the Uttar Pradesh government, citing no legal issues with prior rulings. The court emphasized concerns about educational provisions for 300 affected students and noted allegations of misuse of power in land allotment.
Today, On 5th September, The Kerala High Court decided to form a five-judge special bench to address cases related to the Justice Hema Committee report on harassment and exploitation in the Malayalam film industry, following a plea challenging the report’s release. The state government has announced a special investigation team to probe the allegations. This follows the aftermath of the 2017 actress assault case.
Today, On 11th July, The Allahabad High Court Bar Association passed a resolution to stop addressing judges as “My Lord” or “Your Lordship,” stressing that judges are not deities. The decision led to a strike, and non-compliance will result in disciplinary measures including termination of membership. The strike is extended, and the meeting attendees discussed further actions and resolutions.
On 3rd May: The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) executive committee expressed concerns about the Supreme Court’s recent order mandating one-third of positions in the SCBA elections to be reserved for women. They objected to the order, citing potential negative impacts on the independence of the Bar. The SCBA has called for a meeting to discuss these issues and uphold the role of the judiciary in bar matters. The directive aims to increase gender diversity within the SCBA and ensure inclusivity for women lawyers. Elections for the 2024-25 term are scheduled for May 16th, with results to be announced on May 19th.