The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice on a writ petition filed by advocate Shehla Chaudhary seeking 33% reservation for women in all State Bar Councils across the country, along with reservation of at least one office-bearer post for women on a rotational basis.

The petition states that although gender equality is recognized in the Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles, women advocates continue to remain significantly underrepresented in Bar Council administration, depriving them of meaningful participation in shaping the legal profession.

A Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi sought responses from the respondents and listed the matter for further consideration on November 17, 2025.

The plea relies on the Supreme Court’s May 2, 2024 order directing that one-third of the seats in the Executive Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), including at least one office-bearer position, be reserved for women.

The Union of India, the Bar Council of India, and all State Bar Councils have been arrayed as respondents.

The petitioner argues that the lack of women’s representation in State Bar Councils violates Articles 14, 15, 16, and 21, noting that despite the steady advancement of women in law, the profession continues to reflect male dominance, with women-specific concerns rarely addressed.

The petition traces the historical entry of women into the legal profession to the Legal Practitioners (Women) Act, 1923, but notes that women remain severely underrepresented even today. It reports that women constitute only 2.04% of elected members of State Bar Councils — just 9 women out of 441 total members — with several major Bar Councils, including those of Gujarat, Delhi, Maharashtra & Goa, Punjab & Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, having no women members at all.

The plea states that such underrepresentation significantly affects policymaking and hampers the ability of Bar Councils to address challenges faced by women advocates. Without women at the decision-making table, issues relating to workplace discrimination, harassment, maternity support, infrastructural needs, and safety remain unaddressed.

It is argued that Article 15(3) permits the State to make special provisions for women, and that similar reservations already exist in Parliament, State Assemblies, local bodies, panchayats, municipalities, and cooperative institutions.

The petition further interprets Section 3(2)(b) read with Section 3(3) of the Advocates Act, 1961 as supporting a system of proportional representation that should extend to underrepresented classes, including women advocates.

The petitioner, therefore, seeks directions to reserve one-third of the seats in every State Bar Council for women, including one rotational woman office-bearer post.

The petition has been drafted by advocates Md. Anas Chaudhary and Alia Zaid, filed through AOR Ansar Ahmad Chaudhary, and argued by Dr. Charu Mathur.

Case Title: Shehla Chaudhary v. Union of India
Case No.: W.P.(C) No. 1060/2025