By Soniya:
The Supreme Court of India has proposed the creation of a permanent women-only Vice-President post in the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) from the 2027-28 election cycle. The proposal was made on 8 May 2026 during hearings related to reforms in Bar associations and women’s representation in legal bodies.
The SCBA is the recognised association of advocates practising before the Supreme Court of India. Its elected office-bearers include the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and members of the executive committee. The court suggested that the SCBA General Body Meeting should consider adding an exclusive Vice-President post for women to strengthen representation in the association’s leadership structure.
The proposal came after the court revisited an earlier order issued on 27 April 2026, which had reserved the Vice-President post for women in the 2026-27 elections. Several women advocates objected to this arrangement, arguing that the Secretary’s post carries greater functional importance in the association. Following these objections, the court restored the earlier reservation structure for the 2026-27 elections.
Under the revised arrangement, the Secretary’s post, two senior executive committee positions, and three executive committee posts will remain reserved for women members. Seven women advocates, including R Shase and Savita Devi, had approached the court seeking reconsideration of the earlier order.
The proposal highlights ongoing efforts to improve women’s participation and leadership in professional legal associations. Such reservation measures are increasingly being used in Bar bodies and other professional organisations to promote balanced representation and inclusive governance.
