Mumbai: On the plea of directions that the 30 per cent of the reservation for the Woman advocates in the Bar associations and councils, the High Court of Bombay on Friday, 11th March, sought response from the Bar Council of India- BCI and Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa.
The plea for such reservation for the Woman advocates was taken up before the division bench of the Bombay High Court, which is comprising of Justice- Abhay Oka and Justice- G. S. Kulkarni. And making an order to file responses, the division bench has posted the matter for further hearing on next month.
The concerned division of the Bombay High Court was hearing the Public Interest Litigation- PIL which was filed by the Bombay Lawyers Association, claiming such 30 per cent reservation for the Woman advocates in the Bar councils and Bar associations.
The PIL is also stating that as there is a need in general for the empowerment of women and also particularly, for the Woman advocates, by providing proper representation for the woman advocates in the Bar Council of India, State Bar Councils and Bar Associations, such purpose of their empowerment can be satisfied.
Moreover, it is also found mentioned in the PIL that there are numerous Law universities and National law schools providing world class legal education and number of bright women are choosing law practice as profession after their legal education. However, as it was seen in the last two decades, only three in number of lady advocates were conferred with the distinction of senior advocates in the Bombay High Court.
Also, the PIL further pointed the issues of sexual harassment complaints which being reported by the Woman advocates, however, no actions were taken. And citing reasons for this, the PIL stated it is because of no proper representation of Woman advocate in Bar Council.
As such, with all such reasons and grounds, the PIL is seeking the directions from the court to provide 30 per cent reservation in favour of Woman advocates in the association and councils so that their empowerment issue will be settled down.
Adv. Faim Khalilkhan Pathan
