SC refuses to entertain PIL for SC/ST quota in State Bar Council

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a PIL for reservation for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe lawyers in the State Bar Council. noting that it was too late to seek such representation for the ongoing polls. 

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices R Mahadevan and Joymalya Bagchi pointed out that the plea had been filed belatedly after the election process had already been set in motion.

The petitioners relied upon the previous order granting representation for women lawyers in the State Bar Councils. 

The court, however, did not find any merit in the prayers and rejected it. "We have not provided reservation for women; it is only representation,” the bench said.

The court emphasised that the relief granted to women lawyers was the outcome of sustained litigation over a considerable period but the petitioners here approached the court only after the election process had commenced.