The Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud questioned the lack of female representation in the Bar Councils and Bar Associations across India..CJI Chandrachud remarked that a lack of conducive environment for the election of women in the bodies representing lawyers was leading to a "perpetuation of an entrenched old boys club". He further said that though there was an unprecedented rise in the number of female lawyers, the same was not reflecting in the composition of the elected Bar Councils and Bar Associations.“Even as the number of women lawyers is increasing at an unprecedented pace, this trend is not reflected in the composition of our elected Bar Associations, or even our Bar Councils. When there are no formal barriers to contesting elections, and the number of women lawyers is increasing, the question that arises is – ‘why are more women not contesting and winning elections to Bar Associations or Bar Councils?’" the CJI asked.He was speaking at the three-day centenary celebration of the High Court Bar Association at Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court where he also questioned the trend of bar association members commenting on pending cases and the judgments delivered by the courts..In his speech, CJI Chandrachud also focused on the need for representation of women in the judiciary including the bar.The CJI highlighted that there was not a single woman officer bearer in the Bar Council of India. Similarly, he said there was only one woman member in the Executive Committee of Supreme Court Bar Association.Pertinently, he also referred to the 2021 report of Bar and Bench which had revealed that only 2.04 percent of the elected representatives across State Bar Councils from 21 states and union territories are women..Men's clubs that decide for everybody? Only 2.04% of State Bar Council representatives across India are women.Delving into the reasons for such poor representation of women in the elected bodies, the CJI referred to the extensive campaigning and networking that goes into the election of members of Bar Councils and Bar Associations. "Contesting elections for Bar Associations and for bar councils requires extensive networking, campaigning and soliciting of votes, which often leads to the formation and perpetuation of an entrenched old boys club," he said.This environment can act as a significant disincentive for women and discourage them from not only participating in these elections but also engaging in campaigns, the CJI opined..Stating that it was not enough to remove the formal barriers against contesting of elections by women, the CJI called upon the existing office bearers of the bar bodies to encourage the participation of women lawyers in the elections."It is the responsibility of the existing male office bearers to not only encourage and support women lawyers who stand for election, but also make the environment conducive for them to stand a fair chance," he said..The CJI also urged the women advocates to assert their position in the Bar Associations. "Come forward. Contest elections and hold positions of responsibility," he said.In his address, CJI Chandrachud also referred to Supreme Court's recent decision to designate 11 women lawyers as seniors advocates."Recently, the Supreme Court designated 11 women as lawyers, as senior advocates, in one go, signalling the change in the demographic of our successful lawyers," he said..The 11 women lawyers designated as Senior Advocates by the Supreme Court
The Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud questioned the lack of female representation in the Bar Councils and Bar Associations across India..CJI Chandrachud remarked that a lack of conducive environment for the election of women in the bodies representing lawyers was leading to a "perpetuation of an entrenched old boys club". He further said that though there was an unprecedented rise in the number of female lawyers, the same was not reflecting in the composition of the elected Bar Councils and Bar Associations.“Even as the number of women lawyers is increasing at an unprecedented pace, this trend is not reflected in the composition of our elected Bar Associations, or even our Bar Councils. When there are no formal barriers to contesting elections, and the number of women lawyers is increasing, the question that arises is – ‘why are more women not contesting and winning elections to Bar Associations or Bar Councils?’" the CJI asked.He was speaking at the three-day centenary celebration of the High Court Bar Association at Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court where he also questioned the trend of bar association members commenting on pending cases and the judgments delivered by the courts..In his speech, CJI Chandrachud also focused on the need for representation of women in the judiciary including the bar.The CJI highlighted that there was not a single woman officer bearer in the Bar Council of India. Similarly, he said there was only one woman member in the Executive Committee of Supreme Court Bar Association.Pertinently, he also referred to the 2021 report of Bar and Bench which had revealed that only 2.04 percent of the elected representatives across State Bar Councils from 21 states and union territories are women..Men's clubs that decide for everybody? Only 2.04% of State Bar Council representatives across India are women.Delving into the reasons for such poor representation of women in the elected bodies, the CJI referred to the extensive campaigning and networking that goes into the election of members of Bar Councils and Bar Associations. "Contesting elections for Bar Associations and for bar councils requires extensive networking, campaigning and soliciting of votes, which often leads to the formation and perpetuation of an entrenched old boys club," he said.This environment can act as a significant disincentive for women and discourage them from not only participating in these elections but also engaging in campaigns, the CJI opined..Stating that it was not enough to remove the formal barriers against contesting of elections by women, the CJI called upon the existing office bearers of the bar bodies to encourage the participation of women lawyers in the elections."It is the responsibility of the existing male office bearers to not only encourage and support women lawyers who stand for election, but also make the environment conducive for them to stand a fair chance," he said..The CJI also urged the women advocates to assert their position in the Bar Associations. "Come forward. Contest elections and hold positions of responsibility," he said.In his address, CJI Chandrachud also referred to Supreme Court's recent decision to designate 11 women lawyers as seniors advocates."Recently, the Supreme Court designated 11 women as lawyers, as senior advocates, in one go, signalling the change in the demographic of our successful lawyers," he said..The 11 women lawyers designated as Senior Advocates by the Supreme Court
