SC earmarks SCBA vice-president's post for women advocates in upcoming election

The Supreme Court on Monday said the post of vice-president of the Supreme Court Bar Association SCBA would be earmarked for women members of the Bar in the upcoming election for its executive committee. Prior to that, in May 2024, the apex court had said in the 2024-2025 SCBA election, the post of the executive committee treasurer would be reserved for women.

The Supreme Court on Monday said the post of vice-president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) would be earmarked for women members of the Bar in the upcoming election for its executive committee. In May 2025, the top court had directed that in the 2025-2026 election, the SCBA secretary's post shall be exclusively reserved for a woman candidate. Prior to that, in May 2024, the apex court had said in the 2024-2025 SCBA election, the post of the executive committee treasurer would be reserved for women. It had then directed that there shall be reservation for women members of the Bar to the following effect -- minimum of one-third seats in the executive committee, that is three out of nine, and minimum one-third of the senior executive members, that is, two out of six. The same formula of reserving seats for women lawyers was subsequently followed in other bar bodies in the country. The top court was hearing a matter related to reforms in the SCBA election. On Monday, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice K V Viswanathan said the SCBA shall notify the election committee by May 29. It said the election committee shall notify the poll schedule on July 13. The top court noted that the SCBA has graciously accepted the suggestion that the vice-president's office be earmarked for women members of the Bar in the ensuing election.