PIL seeks 30% reservation for women in bar council

The Bombay High Court on Friday sought its response from the Bar Council of India and the Bar Association of Maharashtra and Goa over a plea filed seeking directions to have 30% reservation for woman advocates in the associations.

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice GS Kulkarni have now posted the matter for further hearing next month. The directions were given during the hearing of a PIL filed by the Bombay Lawyers Association.

In its petition, it has stated that there is a need for empowerment of women in general, and women advocates in particular, by providing proper representation for women advocates in Bar Council of India, State Bar Councils and Bar Associations.

Further numerous law universities and national law schools have been established of all over the country to provide worlds class legal education. In addition, this large number of law colleges have come up in every nook and corner.

Due to this, a sizable number of bright women are choosing law practice as profession. Moreover, during the last two decades, only three lady advocates in Bombay and Delhi High Courts were conferred with the distinction of senior advocates, while several of their male counterparts were honoured with this.

The petition also states that there are several complaints of sexual harassment being reported by woman advocates, but there is no action being taken because of no proper women representation in Bar Council. Thus, the petition appeals that directions being given to the association and councils to have reservation for women.