Women Representation: Supreme Court Modifies Order, Brings Telangana & AP Bar Councils Under Plan in Elections

The Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant was informed that several intervention applications had been filed concerning four States where the election process had not yet begun. Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Mishra told the Court that Telangana was in the first phase of elections, with only the voter list published so far.

Responding to this, the CJI remarked that Telangana was a “very progressive State” and there should be no difficulty in implementing the Court’s directions there.

The Bench noted that while the general voter list had already been published, the election notification was scheduled to be issued on December 28, with nominations opening from December 29.

Mishra submitted that for the current election cycle, reservation for women could be capped at 15 per cent. The CJI, however, referred to submissions made earlier by counsel representing women lawyers from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, who had pointed out that no election notification had yet been issued for Andhra Pradesh, while Telangana was still at a preliminary stage of the process.

Taking note of these facts, the Bench observed that paragraph 4 of its order dated December 8 required correction. As a consequence, the Court directed that the Bar Councils of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh be deleted from paragraph 4 of the earlier order and included in paragraphs 6 and 7 onwards, which deal with States where reservation for women advocates would apply. The CJI clarified that both States would now be treated on par with other Bar Councils covered under the operative directions.

During the hearing, counsel appearing for the Uttarakhand Bar Council urged the Court to exempt the State from the reservation framework. The CJI declined the request, reminding the Bar Council that the beneficiaries were fellow advocates and colleagues. He emphasised that Bar Council elections were based purely on votes, and increasing representation through reservation would help bring forward capable leadership.

The CJI also noted that the BCI had not initially been agreeable to the proposal but had eventually come on board once the Court suggested it. He stressed that State Bar Councils should not view the measure as adversarial, as it would strengthen representation and leadership within the profession.

“If there is any problem, the State may first approach Mr. Mishra,” the CJI said, acknowledging the “wealth of experience” held by senior members of the Bar and office-bearers of the BCI. The Bench further requested the BCI and its Chairman to convene a meeting of elected members from across the country to discuss and facilitate the implementation of the reservation framework.

The matter forms part of a broader effort by the Supreme Court to ensure greater representation of women in Bar Council bodies, amid ongoing debates over inclusivity and reform within professional legal institutions.