Supreme Court implements women’s quota in SC bar association

The apex court said that from now on three executive members and two senior executive members and treasurer of SCBA should be all women.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed for reserving one-third of the posts in the SC Bar Association for women members, saying being a premier institution, it cannot remain static for decades and should reflect timely reforms to meet with the challenges.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant directed that one post of the office bearers of SCBA shall be exclusively reserved for women by turn and on a rotation basis. The court stated that this exclusive women reservation will start with the post of treasurer for the 2024-25 elections, scheduled on May 16.

"We are of the view that the SCBA is a premier institution and is an integral part of the highest judicial forum of the country. The norms, eligibility conditions, membership, membership fee structure etc, cannot remain static for decades and timely reforms to meet with the challenges that may confront the institution from time to time, are required to be carried out," the bench said.

"However, such reforms need to be brought after due consideration of the suggestions from the members of the Bar," the bench added.

The court asked the SCBA's executive committee to invite suggestions from all members of the Bar.

"Notwithstanding any resolution passed by the Special General Body of SCBA, some of the posts in the Executive Committee must be reserved for women members of the Bar. We, accordingly, direct that hitherto including for the ensuing election there shall be reservation for women members of the Bar to the following effect:minimum of one third seats in the Executive Committee, i e, three out of nine and minimum one third out of the Senior Executive Members i.e., two out of six," the bench said.