SC Extends Reservation for Women Lawyers to NGT Bar Association in Delhi

SC Extends Reservation for Women Lawyers to NGT Bar Association in Delhi

The Supreme Court recently clarified that its directive to reserve posts for women lawyers in the executive committees of the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) and various District Bar Associations in Delhi would extend to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Bar Association in Delhi as well.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh also exempted lawyer-members of the NGT Bar Association from the requirement of registering with the Bar Council of Delhi to cast their votes.

"It is directed that the interim directions regarding earmarking the post of Treasurer and some of the members of the Executive Committee for women candidates in the High Court/District Bar Associations of NCT of Delhi shall apply mutatis mutandis to the NGT Bar Association as well. The requisite procedure shall be followed, and reservation for women candidates shall be accordingly provided in the election of the NGT Bar Association," the Court said.

Furthermore, since the NGT Bar Association comprises advocates registered with Bar Councils across the country, the Bench ruled that its members would not be required to enroll with the Bar Council of Delhi.
 
"It is further directed that condition of requirement of enrollment with Delhi Bar Council alone shall not apply in the case of NGT Bar Association for the reason that the said Bar Association comprises of the Advocates registered with various Bar Councils throughout the Country," the Court said.
 
These directions were issued during the hearing of two interlocutory applications challenging a Delhi High Court order that mandated simultaneous elections for all bar associations in the national capital on the same day.  

Earlier, in September 2023, the Supreme Court had directed the DHCBA to reserve four out of ten Executive Committee (EC) posts for women. This directive came while the Court was hearing two petitions—one seeking the implementation of 33% reservation for women in all bar association elections in the national capital, and another specifically advocating for reservations in the DHCBA.

 

 
 
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