SC Orders Structured Mechanism for Women’s Representation in Delhi lawyer Bodies

August 25, 2026

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) and bar bodies of the district courts in the national capital to jointly work out a “structured” and “institutionalised” mechanism for representation of women in their governing bodies for the 2027 Bar elections in the Fozia Rahman vs. Bar Council of Delhi and Anr. case.

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana directed the Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations of Delhi, in consultation with the DHCBA and other bar bodies, to come out with a proposal reflecting an “all-acceptable solution.”

Six Weeks Given for Consultations

The Court granted six weeks for consultations to ensure that any impediments or bottlenecks arising during deliberations are discussed and resolved well in time.

The Bench told the DHCBA that the matter was one of its leadership, statesmanship, stewardship and “a question of prestige.”

The Court also expressed confidence that the coordination committee would arrive at a workable solution.

“We have no reason to doubt that the coordination committee will come out with an all-acceptable solution, which shall be a structured, institutionalised representation mechanism, so that repeated orders are not required to be passed by this Court,” the Court said in its order.

Petition Sought Reservation for Women Lawyers

The Court passed the order on a petition filed by advocate Fozia Rahman seeking reservation for women lawyers in the DHCBA.

On December 19, 2024, the top court had passed interim directions reserving, on an experimental basis, the post of treasurer for women across all Delhi bar associations and one post of designated senior member executive for women in the DHCBA.

The Court had also reserved 30 percent of executive committee posts for women in all Delhi district court bar associations on an experimental basis.

SC Underlines Need for Women’s Representation

The Court had earlier underlined the constitutional mandate for women’s representation in governance, drawing a parallel with panchayats and other local self-government bodies.

It had held that the same principle of representation should extend to the legal fraternity, emphasising the need for greater participation of women lawyers in the decision-making bodies of bar associations.