New Delhi: On the issue of providing 33 per cent reservation for women in Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) elections, the Supreme Court of India on Thursday directed the High Court Bar Association “to show large heartedness” and hold a general body meeting within 10 days for considering reservation of posts for women candidates in the High Court bar elections.
It should be a sign of progression from the bar’ itself and resolved by lawyers themselves: Apex court
A bench of Justice Surya Kant, Justice Dipaknkar Dutta and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan in their order said that the general body meeting shall consider providing reservation for the post of treasurer and other executive committee members for women in the Delhi High Court lawyers’ body elections and it “should be a sign of progression from the bar” itself and resolved by the lawyers themselves.
Delhi high Court Bar Association elections will be held some time in October this year.
A petition seeking 33 per cent reservation for women in Bar Council of Delhi and other lawyers’ body was filed by an advocate in the Delhi High Court.
Representation of women in lawyers’ bodies was abysmally low: Petitioner
The petition stressed on the point that representation of women in lawyers’ bodies was abysmally low, affects their right to access justice and detracts overall effectiveness of justice delivery system.
While the High Court refused to grant any interim directions on reservation of seats for women, the women advocate approached the Supreme Court for the same.
Earlier, during the day, Delhi high Court Bar Association president Mohit Mathur, who appeared before the Supreme Court bench, said that giving reservation to women will amount to changing the constitution of the bar association and for that he needed to consult the stakeholder and discuss the issue with the general body of the bar association.
To which justice Dipankar Dutta quipped, that they are just asking the bar association to look at the desirability of changing the constitution.
Bench refused to give any directions on issue of providing reservation for women in district bar associations
On the issue of providing reservation for women in district bar associations, the bench refused to give any directions saying that once the High Court lawyers’ body provides reservations, the district bar associations will follow suit. “All that is need is some brand ambassador to show the way,” said Justice Surya Kant.
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