Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Saturday expressed his displeasure over scanty representation of females in the Bar Councils and Bar Associations across India.
Speaking at the three-day centenary celebration of the High Court Bar Association at Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, the CJI said that there was not a single woman officer bearer in the Bar Council of India.
In case of Executive Committee of
the Supreme Court Bar Association, he noted that there was only one woman member in it
The CJI further mentioned the 2021 report of a leading legal portal, which said that only 2.04 percent of the elected representatives in State Bar Councils of 21 states and Union Territories were women.
He said the 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’.
Noting the unprecedented rise in the number of female lawyers, he said the same was not reflecting in the composition of the elected Bar Councils and Bar Associations.
When there were no formal barriers to contesting elections, and the number of women lawyers was increasing, then why were more women not contesting and winning elections to Bar Associations or Bar Councils, he asked.
Speaking about the possible reasons for poor representation of women in elected legal bodies, the CJI said that contesting elections for Bar Associations and Bar Councils required extensive networking, campaigning and soliciting of votes, which often lead to the formation and perpetuation of an ‘entrenched old boys club’.
He noted that this environment could act as a significant disincentive for women and might discourage them from not only participating in these elections, but also engaging in campaigns.
Stating that it was not enough to remove the formal barriers against contesting of elections by women, he called upon the existing office bearers of the bar bodies to encourage the participation of women lawyers in the elections, noting that removing formal barriers against women contesting such elections was not enough.
The CJI urged the male office bearers to not only encourage and support women lawyers who contested in these elections, but also make the environment conducive for them to stand a fair chance.
He further urged the women advocates to assert their position in the Bar Associations, telling them to contest more such elections and hold responsible positions.