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

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

Court Issues Notices

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

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

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

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

What Does Plea Say?

plea re, “Because, for 64 years since its establishment, women's representation in 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 Delhi Bar Council, none of whom held positions such as Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, or Secretary. A similar situation exists in Delhi High Court and District Bar Association. This highlights clear dominance and inequality towards women lawyers within Bar Council of Delhi. 

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

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

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