Delhi HC Issues Notice on Plea for Women’s Reservation in DHCBA Executive Committee

The Delhi High Court on Monday (August 5) issued a notice to the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) and the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) regarding a plea seeking the reservation of at least two seats on the DHCBA’s executive committee for women lawyers.

A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela has scheduled the matter for further hearing on August 12, 2024.

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) will be considered alongside another petition that seeks a 33% reservation for women in the bar associations of the national capital. The new petition has been filed by advocate Fozia Rahman.

The petition requests the reservation of two seats for women advocates in positions such as President, Vice President, Honorary Secretary, Joint Secretary, and Treasurer, either on a rotational basis or through any other method deemed suitable to best serve the Bar’s interests and address the gender imbalance in the DHCBA’s decision-making processes. Alternatively, it seeks a direction to reserve the post of the DHCBA President for women lawyers once every three years. In years when the presidency is contested by all Bar members, the positions of Secretary or Joint Secretary should be reserved for women.

Advocate Rahman contended that there is a lack of gender diversity in the leadership positions of the DHCBA.

The plea states that, “Despite the comprehensive framework of Rule 19 of the DHCBA Rules, there remains a notable absence of gender diversity in the decision-making posts of the Association. The significant growth in the DHCBA’s membership, now exceeding 32,000 members, necessitates an adaptation of the organizational structure to better reflect this increased membership and ensure diverse representation.”

Additionally, Rahman, along with about 200 other advocates, had submitted a representation addressing these issues. However, no decision has yet been made by the respondents.

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