On Friday, the Supreme Court sought responses from the Delhi Bar Council and bar associations across the national capital regarding petitions seeking 33% reservation for women in bar bodies. The case, Shobha Gupta and anr v. Bar Council of Delhi & Ors, was heard by a Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, who set the next hearing for September 25.
One counsel requested an earlier date due to ongoing bar election campaigns, to which Justice Bhuyan responded, “Bar elections—why should there be campaigning? Let lawyers vote as per their conscience.” Justice Kant further expressed concerns about the money spent on bar elections, remarking, “If lawyers also do this, what will happen to the future of litigation in this country?”
The Bench is hearing two petitions: one calling for 33% reservation for women in all district bar associations in Delhi, and another seeking similar reservations in the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA). The first petition was filed by advocate Shobha Gupta and her daughter, following a Delhi High Court decision on September 11 to deny interim relief, prompting an appeal to the Supreme Court.
The plea, filed through advocate Swati Jindal Garg, argued that while women are entering the legal profession, they are progressing slowly into senior positions due to limited representation in key posts of the Bar Council and associations. The petition emphasized the need for reservation to prevent the continued dominance of men in a male-dominated profession.
The second plea, concerning DHCBA, was filed by advocate Aditi Chaudhary through advocate Sunieta Ojha, with advocate Harshita Singhal drafting the petition. The Supreme Court issued notices on both pleas, tagging them together. Elections for the Bar Council of Delhi and all bar associations in the city are scheduled for October 19 this year.
Additionally, the Supreme Court recently stayed a Delhi High Court order that prohibited candidates from contesting for two posts simultaneously.
