Advocate Deeksha N Amruthesh has filed a writ petition in the Karnataka High Court, requesting a 33 per cent reservation for women lawyers in the upcoming elections to the Advocates Association of Bengaluru (AAB).
Based on Supreme Court judgments, the petition aims to ensure women have a minimum of one-third reservation in executive committees of bar associations. The petition argues that the lack of gender-based reservations in the AAB elections perpetuates systemic inequities and denies women advocates equitable representation in leadership roles. Vacation Judge Justice Suraj Govindraj has issued notices to the Karnataka State Bar Council and the Advocates Association of Bengaluru, with the next hearing scheduled for January 6, 2025.
The AAB's general body, elected in 2021, includes a president, general secretary, treasurer, and 29 Governing Council members from various court units.
Senior counsel Lakshmy Iyengar argued that the writ relies on Supreme Court judgments, including the Supreme Court Bar Council vs BD Kauahik case and Fozia Rahman vs Bar Council of Delhi, and other matters pending before the SC.
The city-based advocate, Deeksha N Amruthesh petition alleges that the respondents failed to implement the Supreme Court's directives on the reservation of at least one-third of executive committee seats for women in bar associations. The petitioner argued that not following the apex court order infringed upon the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 15, and 19(1)(g) of the Indian Constitution.
