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The Karnataka High Court has ruled that all bar associations in the state must implement reservations for women among office-bearers, in line with Supreme Court directives. This decision came in response to a petition filed by women advocates from the Tumakuru Bar Association seeking 33% reservation for female members.
Also read: Karnataka HC halts Tumakuru Bar Association polls over women’s quota plea
The single-judge bench of Justice M. Nagaprasanna emphasized that the Supreme Court's January 2025 ruling on gender representation in bar associations must be uniformly applied across all district court bar associations. The order mandates that the post of treasurer be reserved for women and 30% of governing body seats be allocated to female candidates. Additionally, bar associations must submit compliance reports to district and sessions judges, ensuring adherence to the directive in all future elections.
The petitioners referenced the Supreme Court’s decision in Deeksha Amrutesh v State of Karnataka, which directed the Advocates Association of Bengaluru to implement similar reservations under Article 142 of the Constitution. Initially, the Tumakuru Bar Association had denied their request, arguing that an executive member position was already reserved for women. However, the High Court clarified that compliance with the Supreme Court's directive was mandatory.
The court urged bar associations, including those in Bengaluru, Dharwad, and Kalaburagi, to amend their bylaws without delay. It asserted that the decision aims to dismantle male-dominated structures and ensure equitable opportunities for women in the legal profession.
