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Madhya Pradesh High Court
Jatindar Kaur vs Bar Council Of M P Jabalpur on 24 March, 2026
1 WP-10351-2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
AT JABALPUR
WP No. 10351 of 2026
(JATINDAR KAUR Vs BAR COUNCIL OF M P JABALPUR AND OTHERS )
Dated : 24-03-2026
Shri Ashish Singh Baghel - Advocate for Petitioner.
Shri Surya Nath Pandey - Advocate for Respondent No.2 (through VC).
1. Pursuant to the petition being taken up in the morning and notice being issued to the
Election Committee, Mr. Surya Nath Pandey, Chief Election Officer of the District Bar
Association, Rewa is connected through VC.
2. Petitioner lady advocate has filed the subject petition challenging the notification dated
07.03.2026 issued by the District Advocates Association, Rewa primarily on the ground that there
is no reservation of 30% for women candidates in the election process in terms of the directions
issued by Supreme Court. Reference is made to the various orders passed by the Supreme Court
in SLP(C) No.1404/2025 (Deeksha N Amruthesh Vs. State of Karnataka).
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner relies on order dated 16.01.2026, wherein the
Supreme Court has noticed its earlier order dated 24.03.2025 to the effect that the Supreme Court
had mandated that there shall be 30% reservation of women lawyers as office bearers/executive
members in District/ Taluka or any other type of Bar Association. A direction was issued to the
Registrar General of all the High Courts to ensure representation in all the Bar Associations. The
Supreme Court had noticed that in respect of some Bar Associations in the country, the directions
were complied with however, in certain Bar Associations, elections were held after 24.03.2025
without taking any women members as office bearers or providing them adequate representation
in the Executive Committee. A direction was issued to the Registrar General of all the High
Courts to collect the correct facts with respect to every Bar Association within their territorial
jurisdiction and submit a compliance report to the Court.
4. By order dated 13.03.2026, the Supreme Court in the same case further noticed that in
some States, the benefit of representation for women members was not perculating at different
types of Bar Associations. The Supreme Court had directed the High Courts to ensure that within
all Bar Associations in their respective jurisdiction at least 30% members of the Bar involved in
the election of the governing or executive body of Bar Association are women. Where the number
2 WP-10351-2026
of women lawyers enrolled with such Bar Associations fall significantly short of 30% those
available may serve on their governing body. Supreme Court has further mandated that where
there are enough women members and for some reasons, they could not contest the election, the
District Judges were authorized to nominate women members to the Executive Committee or
their respective Bar Association within their jurisdiction. The Supreme Court has directed the
Registrar General to forward the report in respect of any reservation being shown at any level of a
particular sub division or district by any Bar Association.
5. In view of the above directions issued by the Supreme Court, notice was issued in the
petition and information was sought as to whether there is reservation of 30% in the upcoming
election of the District Bar Association, Rewa. We are informed that there is no such reservation.
6. Learned counsel for petitioner has also provides a list of candidates whose nomination
has been accepted for contesting the said election.
7. We find the that nominations falls way short of even 10% of the candidates contesting
for the various posts. The polling for the said election is scheduled to be held on 25.03.2026.
8. In view of the mandatory directions issued by the Supreme Court to ensure that there is
30% reservation of women in the Executive Committee as office bearers/ executive members in
the Executive Committee of the Bar Association, we restrain the Bar Association from holding
the election for the District Bar Association, Rewa which is scheduled to be held on 25.03.2026
till the next date of hearing.
9. List on 08.04.2026.
10. Notice shall issue to Bar Council of Madhya Pradesh as well as District Judge, Rewa.
11. Mr. Surya Nath Pandey, Chief Election Officer has been appraised of the order and
requested to defer the polling which is scheduled to be held tomorrow till further orders by the
Court.
C.C. Today.
(SANJEEV SACHDEVA) (VINAY SARAF)
CHIEF JUSTICE JUDGE
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