SC issues notice on PIL seeking 30% reservation for women lawyers in govt legal panels
New Delhi, May 20
The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Central government and all States on a PIL seeking a minimum 30 per cent reservation for women lawyers in government legal panels.
A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, asking parties in the case to submit some comprehensive material, sought a response from the government.
The petition was filed by the Ladli Foundation Trust seeking reservations for women in the government legal panel.
Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the petitioner, referred to a recent survey conducted by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) highlighting the challenges faced by women advocates.
He argued that merely including women lawyers in government panels was not enough, as they were often not assigned cases. He, therefore, urged the bench to ensure a mechanism that guarantees the actual allotment of cases to women advocates as well.
The PIL sought a direction to implement a minimum 30 per cent reservation for women advocates in all High Court panels, government law officer positions and Central and State government/PSU empanelments, to ensure enforcement of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 15(3), 19(1)(g) and 21.
Empirical data indicate severe under-representation of women in such panels and legal positions, contended the petitioner.
"While women increasingly enter law schools and the legal profession in significant numbers, their representation declines sharply in positions of professional authority. Statistical data indicates that out of approx 1.54 million advocates enrolled across India, only about 2,84,507 are women, constituting approximately 15.31 per cent of the legal workforce", the plea stated.
The plea pointed out that the gender disparity is visible even in the higher judiciary, noting that only 11 women have been appointed to the Supreme Court since Justice Fathima Beevi became the first woman judge of the apex court in 1989.
The PIL further underscored that since independence, no woman lawyer has been appointed as the Attorney General for India or the Solicitor General of India. It also pointed out that none of the Additional Solicitors General designated for High Courts are women.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I support women empowerment, but reservation based on gender? Shouldn't it be based on merit? The best lawyers should get these positions. However, I do agree that the system has inherent biases against women. Maybe a better approach would be to ensure transparent selection processes and mentorship programs. Just my two paise. 🤔
Finally! I'm a practicing advocate in Chennai and the bias is real. Even when women are empaneled, we often get the routine cases while male colleagues get high-profile ones. The petition's point about actual allotment is crucial. We don't just need names on paper; we need real opportunities. 👍
Reservation quotas only perpetuate mediocrity. Instead of fixing the root cause - male-dominated networks and old boys club - we're creating another reservation system. Why not invest in better creche facilities at court premises and flexible working arrangements? That would help far more women continue their practice. But yes, the current data is concerning.
As a law student in Delhi, this gives me hope! I've seen how women advocates struggle to get court work even after establishing themselves. The fact that we've never had a woman Attorney General or Solicitor General is shameful for a country like India. We need structural changes, not just tokenism. 🏛️
Interesting to see this debate in India. In the US, we've had similar discussions about women in law partnerships and government roles. The key is implementation - quotas without enforcement mechanisms are meaningless. India's
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.