On 09 May 2025, the Supreme Court issued directions in W.P.(C) 819/2024 concerning representation of women members within Bar Associations in the State of Gujarat. The order required that Bar Associations must ensure representation of women within their organisational structures. Following the issuance of this order, certain Bar Associations sought clarity on its scope, particularly regarding whether the requirement extended to all associations or only certain categories such as High Court or District Bar Associations.
To address the ambiguity, Advocate Meena A. Jagtap filed Miscellaneous Application No. 2324/2025 seeking clarification of the May 2025 order. The application also included connected prayers for condonation of delay and exemption from filing official translation. The primary issue raised was the extent of applicability of the direction on women’s representation.
The matter was taken up by the Supreme Court on 08 December 2025.
After hearing counsel for the petitioner and respondents, the Supreme Court clarified the scope of its earlier order. The clarification is recorded in the order dated 08 December 2025 (Record of Proceedings,
“Order dated 09.05.2025 is clarified to the extent that the representation to be ensured for the women members within the Bar Associations shall apply to all the Bar Associations in the State of Gujarat. No distinction shall be made merely on account of nomenclature of a Bar Association.”
The Court then disposed of the Miscellaneous Application.
Based on the clarification issued on 08 December 2025, the requirement of ensuring representation of women members applies uniformly to:
The Court expressly stated that nomenclature cannot be a basis for distinction.
With this clarification, the directions issued on 09 May 2025 now stand confirmed as applicable to all Bar Associations functioning within the State of Gujarat. There are no pending issues regarding the scope of the mandate, and the Miscellaneous Application has been disposed of.
Written by Adv. Aiswarya Krishnan
