On Wednesday, Justice Subramonium Prasad of the Delhi High Court opted to step aside from presiding over a petition requesting the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) to allocate a minimum of two seats in its Executive Committee for female lawyers.

During the proceedings, Justice Prasad mentioned his prior affiliation with the SCBA as the grounds for his withdrawal from the case. The issue is slated for a hearing before a different bench on February 26th.

Advocate Yogamaya MG, in her plea, underscored her efforts to spark discussions regarding the amendment of SCBA regulations to ensure gender representation. Despite sending written appeals to both the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the SCBA President, urging a general body meeting for this objective, she received no response.

Advocate Yogamaya now seeks the High Court's intervention to compel the SCBA to convene a meeting and address the matter.

The petition, represented by Advocates Bineesh Karat, Nandana Menon, and Anjitha Santosh, emphasizes the importance of women's representation within the SCBA for fostering inclusivity and diversity. Advocate Sriram Parakkat appeared for the petitioner during the hearing.

The plea contends that the insufficient representation of women lawyers may perpetuate an environment where issues concerning sexual harassment are not effectively addressed. It emphasizes the pivotal role of women in decision-making bodies to cultivate a workplace culture that prioritizes the prevention of sexual harassment.

“Amending the Supreme Court Bar Association Rules are crucial to ensure women representation for fostering inclusivity and diversity within the association. This modification would create a more equitable and representative environment, allowing the perspectives and contributions of women to be better acknowledged and incorporated. It aligns with the constitutional principle of gender equality and promotes a fair and inclusive legal community, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness and legitimacy of the Supreme Court Bar Association," the plea reads.

Case Title: Ms. Yogamaya MG v. Supreme Court Bar Association