Bar Council of India Seeks Supreme Court Approval for Increased Women's Representation
BCI seeks SC nod to add 10% more women to State Bar Councils
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The Bar Council of India (BCI) has petitioned the Supreme Court to approve a proposal for increasing women's representation in State Bar Councils by co-opting an additional 10% of women candidates. This initiative aims to enhance women's participation in the legal profession and is based on the votes received by candidates in previous elections.
- 01BCI aims to raise the representation of women in State Bar Councils from 20% to 30%.
- 02The proposal involves co-opting women candidates who received the highest votes but were not elected due to existing reservation limits.
- 03The initiative follows discussions with stakeholders and is supported by the Supreme Court's April 2026 order in the case of Siva Kumari v. Union of India.
- 04The BCI emphasizes that the co-option method will be fair and transparent, reducing favoritism and discrimination.
- 05An application has been filed with the Supreme Court to seek directions for resolving this issue.
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The Bar Council of India (BCI) has sought the Supreme Court's approval to enhance women's representation in State Bar Councils by co-opting an additional 10% of women candidates. This proposal aims to increase the current 20% representation of women in these councils. The BCI's plan involves selecting women candidates who received the highest number of votes in elections but were not elected due to the existing reservation limits. This initiative was finalized after consultations with stakeholders and is in alignment with the Supreme Court's April 13, 2026 order in the case of Siva Kumari v. Union of India. The BCI believes that this co-option method will ensure a fair and transparent process, minimizing the chances of favoritism and discrimination, as it is based on actual votes received by candidates. The Council has filed an application with the Supreme Court to seek necessary directions for the resolution of this matter with clarity and finality.
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This proposal could significantly enhance women's participation in the legal profession, leading to more diverse representation in legal bodies.
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