Delhi High Court Asks Lawyers’ Bodies To Reply To PIL Seeking 33% Women Reservation

New Delhi: Advocate Shobha Gupta, who initiated the process of breaking the glass ceiling in the legal corridors of the national capital, got shot in the arm today. 

Court Issues Notices

While hearing her PIL - seeking 33% reservation for women in the lawyers’ bodies - Delhi High Court, on Thursday, issued notices to the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD), Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) and all the District Bar Associations in Delhi.

After issuing notices to the BCD, DHCBA and all the District Bar Associations in Delhi, a division bench, comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gadela, listed the said matter on August 12.

33 Per Cent Seats Already Reserved For Women, Says Pinky Anand 

Senior Advocate Pinky Anand, who appeared for Advocate Gupta, submitted that as per a Supreme Court’s order, “Thirty-three per cent seats were already reserved for women in the Executive Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association.”

What Does The Plea Say?

The plea read, “Because, for 64 years since its establishment, women's representation in the Bar Council of Delhi, Delhi High Court Bar Association and District Bar Associations have been completely absent. During this time, Only two female lawyers were part of the Delhi Bar Council, none of whom held positions such as Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, or Secretary. A similar situation exists in the Delhi High Court and District Bar Association. This highlights the clear dominance and inequality towards women lawyers within the Bar Council of Delhi. 

Indian Women Lawyers Couldn't Practice for 20 Years Post Freedom: Shobha Gupta Tells Republic

Speaking to Republic, Advocate Gupta said, “Women lawyers, who didn’t get to practice in the Indian courts even till 20 years after the Independence of our country, got representation in the BCD only twice since its formation in 1961."

She added, "This is a grave injustice to 40,000-odd female lawyers practising in Delhi.”