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Case Overview

Case Name: Shehla Chaudhary vs. Union of India, W.P.(C) No. 1060/2025

A bench of the Supreme Court of India comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice on a petition filed by Advocate Shehla Chaudhary . The petition demands one-third reservation for women in all State Bar Councils including one office-bearer post for women on a rotational basis . The petitioner drew attention to the gross underrepresentation of women in these statutory bodies, noting that women constitute only 2.04% of elected members across all State Bar Councils .

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Key Aspects

The plea highlights systemic gender imbalance and calls for structural reform to ensure inclusivity . The following are the major facts and issues :

• Women advocates constitute a negligible number in State Bar Councils, with many councils having no women members .
• The plea cites Article 15(3) empowering the State to make special provisions for women .
• It refers to the Supreme Court’s May 2024 order reserving one-third seats for women in the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Executive Committee .
• The petition argues that lack of representation limits women’s ability to influence policymaking in the legal profession .

Legal Insights

The petitioner invoked several constitutional and statutory provisions ensuring gender equality and representation :

• Articles 14, 15, 16, and 21 of Constitution of India – guarantee equality, prohibit discrimination, and ensure equal opportunity in public life .
• Article 15(3) – allows special provisions for women’s advancement .
• Article 243D & 243T – provide reservation for women in Panchayati Raj and Municipal bodies .
• Section 3(2)(h) of the Advocates Act, 1961 – mandates proportional representation in State Bar Councils, interpreted to include unrepresented classes .

Court’s Verdict

The Supreme Court of India issued notice to the Union of India, Bar Council of India and all State Bar Councils, seeking their responses by November 17, 2025 . The Court’s intervention signifies a possible step toward institutionalizing reservation for women in Bar Council elections, aiming to promote gender parity within the legal fraternity .

Source – Supreme Court of India 

Read also – Constitution of India 

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