Supreme Court urges overhaul of State Bar Councils, mandates two women co-opted
The Supreme Court warned that State Bar Councils function as male-only clubs and ordered the appointment of two women as co-opted members.
During a hearing in New Delhi, the Supreme Court criticised State Bar Councils for evolving into "men's clubs" that limit inclusive representation. The justices directed the chief justices of the high courts to select two women to be co-opted as members of each council. This move aims to break the existing monopoly on council functioning and promote gender balance.
The court highlighted that the current structure hampers equitable participation in the legal profession. By ordering the co-option, the judiciary seeks to reshape the governance of bar bodies across the country. The directive signals a broader push for gender diversity within professional institutions.
Why it matters
It seeks to make India's legal bodies more gender-balanced and inclusive.
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