New Delhi, August 11: The Bar Council of India (BCI) has directed the elected members of all State Bar Councils to hold a consultative meeting on August 16 to deliberate on the proposed co-option of women members and identify suitable four women advocates for consideration.
The direction follows the August 4 order of the Supreme Court in Yogmaya M G v Union of India & Ors. In its communication dated August 11, the BCI said it welcomes the Supreme Court's order and noted that it provides guidance on the functioning and administration of representative institutions of the Bar.
The BCI has asked elected members of each State Bar Council to collectively deliberate on suitable names of eligible women advocates who may be considered for co-option. After the deliberations, the members have been asked to collectively identify and recommend a panel of four women advocates.
The BCI said the panel, along with the outcome of the deliberations and, where considered appropriate, the views expressed by the elected members, will be forwarded by the Secretary of the concerned State Bar Council to the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court for consideration as part of the consultative process contemplated by the Supreme Court's August 4 order.
While considering the names, the elected members have been asked to take into account professional standing, seniority, integrity and experience of the advocates. They have also been asked to consider geographical and regional representation and the need to ensure representation from areas that are presently not adequately represented in the Council.
The BCI said the preparation and forwarding of the panel is intended to facilitate the consultation directed by the Supreme Court and ensure that the co-option process is carried out in a fair and effective manner.
The communication further directs the Secretaries of the respective State Bar Councils to place it before all elected members immediately and facilitate the convening of the meeting on August 16. The outcome of the deliberations is also to be communicated promptly to the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court.
The BCI said the Supreme Court order has empowered elected members to actively exercise their options in shaping the membership of Bar institutions, and emphasised the significance of democratic participation, institutional responsibility and orderly governance within the legal profession.
The communication has been issued by Srimanto Sen, Principal Secretary, Bar Council of India, and addressed to all elected members of the State Bar Councils through the Secretaries of the respective Councils.
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