The High Court of Karnataka has ordered issue of notice to the Advocates’ Association, Bengaluru, (AAB) and the State government on a petition filed by a young lawyer seeking 33% reservation for women lawyers in various posts of the governing council and the executive committee of AAB and to implement such reservation from the ensuing elections to the association.
Justice Suraj Govindaraj passed the order on a petition filed by 26-year-old advocate Deeksha N. Amruthesh, a member of AAB.
The petitioner has sought a direction for reservation of 33% posts in AAB to woman lawyers based on the directions issued by the apex court for reserving various posts for women advocates in the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) in May 2024, and a similar direction issued in December 2024 to provide such a reservation for woman lawyers in the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA). Also, the apex court had made it clear that these reservation is only to guarantee a minimum woman members in SCBA and woman advocates are eligible to contest for all posts of SCAB irrespective of these reservations, the petitioner said.
In case of SCBA, the apex court had ordered for reservation of minimum of 1/3rd seats each in the executive committee (that is 3 out of 9) and in senior executive members (2 out of 6 posts). Besides, the apex court said that at least one post of the office-bearer should be reserved for women candidate exclusively by turn and on rotation basis while reserving the post of treasurer in the executive committee for woman, the petitioner pointed out.
With regard to DHCBA, the petitioner said the apex court had ordered reservation of three posts for women lawyers while also ordering reservation of the post of treasurer and 30% of the post of members in the executive committee in Delhi’s district bar association.
“It is pertinent to note that AAB’s governing body has historically been dominated by male advocates, with minimal representation of women. In 2021-24, only two women were elected against 29 governing council members. This lack of diversity undermines the principles of equality and inclusivity that the legal profession seeks to uphold. The failure to implement gender-based reservations perpetuates systemic inequities and denies women advocates the opportunity to contribute to the association’s leadership and decision-making processes,” it was contended in the petition.
The petitioner said AAB has not considered the representation submitted by her and other members for reserving posts in elections scheduled to be held in February.
Published – January 01, 2025 08:04 pm IST