Women's Reservation Denied By DHCBA Despite Supreme Court Order

On September 26, 2024, the Supreme Court (SC) ordered the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) to reserve posts in the Executive Committee (EC) of the bar body for women. Recently, the DHCBA rejected the adoption of this resolution that favors the reservation of posts for women. On Monday (October 07, 2024), the meeting of the General Body of DHCBA to vote on the same was conducted, helmed by its President, Senior Advocate Mohit Mathur, and its Secretary Sandeep Sharma. While the resolution was put forth for a vote, the male aggressively opposed and the voices of protesting women lawyers were drowned out. At the meeting, Secretary Sandeep Sharma conveyed the decision of the DHCBA, “We are against any kind of reservation for any seat." In short, despite the Supreme Court’s resolution, the DHCBA refused to reserve posts in the Executive Committee (EC) of the bar body for women. The three-judge bench of the SC, on September 26, ordered that out of 10 EC members, there should be at least 3 women members.