Why in News?
- The Supreme Court has mandated 30% reservation for women in State Bar Councils (SBCs) for states where elections are yet to be announced.
Key Directions of the Supreme Court
- For the current election cycle:
o20% seats - to be elected directly by women advocates.
o10% seats - to be filled through co-option by existing members.
- Co-option:
oA procedure where members are nominated/appointed by the existing council rather than elected.
About Bar Councils
Statutory Basis
- Created under the Advocates Act, 1961.
Bodies
Bar Council of India (BCI)
oApex statutory body.
State Bar Councils (SBCs)
oOne in each state or group of states.
Functions
BCI:
oPrescribes standards of professional ethics.
oRegulates legal education with universities.
oSupervises and controls the functioning of SBCs.
SBCs:
oEnroll advocates on their rolls.
oSafeguard rights, interests, and privileges of advocates.
oConduct State Bar Council elections.
Status of Women in the Legal Profession
Representation in Bar Councils
oBCI: 0 women members among 20.
oState Bar Councils: Only 9 women out of 441 representatives.
Representation in Judiciary
oSupreme Court: Only 11 women judges since 1950.
oHigh Courts: 13.4% of judges are women.
oDistrict Judiciary: 36.3% women (State of the Judiciary Report, 2023).
Why is Women’s Representation Low?
Entry-Level Barriers: Judicial recruitment rules requiring continuous practice disadvantage women due to career breaks for childcare or family responsibilities.
Retention Issues: Lack of mentorship, gender-sensitive work norms, and slow career progression restrict long-term presence.
Infrastructure Challenges
Many courts still lack:
oWomen’s washrooms
oCreches
oSafe workspaces - discouraging women from full-time litigation.
Cultural & Social Norms: Persistent patriarchal attitudes and stereotypes discourage women from joining litigation, which is seen as demanding and male-dominated.
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
