New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notices to the Centre and all State governments on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a minimum 30 per cent reservation for women advocates in government legal panels across the country. The plea also calls for greater representation of women in government law officer appointments and empanelments by public sector undertakings (PSUs).
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi heard the matter and directed the parties involved to place comprehensive material and relevant data before the court. The apex court has sought responses from the Union government as well as the States on the issues raised in the petition.
The PIL has been filed by the Ladli Foundation Trust, which argued that women continue to remain significantly underrepresented in positions of authority within the legal profession despite increasing participation in law schools and the broader legal workforce.
Appearing for the petitioner, senior advocate Vikas Singh referred to a recent survey conducted by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), highlighting the challenges faced by women advocates in securing meaningful professional opportunities. Singh argued that merely including women lawyers on government panels was insufficient if they were not entrusted with actual case assignments. He urged the court to ensure that women advocates receive equitable allotment of cases and meaningful participation in litigation handled by government bodies.
The petition seeks directions for implementing at least 30 per cent reservation for women advocates in High Court legal panels, appointments of government law officers, and empanelments by Central and State governments as well as PSUs. It argues that such measures are necessary to uphold the constitutional guarantees under Articles 14, 15(3), 19(1)(g), and 21.
The plea cited data showing that out of approximately 15.4 lakh advocates enrolled across India, only around 2.84 lakh are women, accounting for nearly 15.31 per cent of the legal profession. The petition also pointed to the low representation of women in the higher judiciary, noting that only 11 women judges have been appointed to the Supreme Court since Justice Fathima Beevi became the first woman judge of the apex court in 1989.
Highlighting the gender imbalance in top legal positions, the PIL further stated that India has never had a woman Attorney General or Solicitor General since independence. It also claimed that no woman currently serves as an Additional Solicitor General designated for High Courts.
