The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Union government, state governments and Union Territories on a public interest petition seeking 30% reservation or representation for women lawyers in government legal committees and key law-officer posts.
The petition, filed by the Ladli Foundation, also seeks similar representation in legal panels attached to the Supreme Court and High Courts, as well as legal aid committees.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Jaymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi heard the matter. Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the foundation and also the president of the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association, argued that women continue to be under-represented in higher judicial and legal appointments.
He submitted that since Justice Fathima Beevi became the first woman judge of the Supreme Court in 1989, only 11 women have been appointed as judges so far. He also pointed to the share of women judges being 5.88% in the Supreme Court and 13.76% in High Courts, and said no woman has been appointed as Attorney General or Solicitor General even after more than 75 years of Independence.
Following the hearing, the court directed the Centre, states and UT administrations to file their responses.
