The bench found that in the case of Punjab and Haryana, the formal election process has not yet begun.

Supreme Court Directs 30% Seats for Women in Upcoming Punjab and Haryana Bar Elections

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered 30 per cent representation for women advocates in the upcoming Bar Council elections of Punjab and Haryana. 

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi passed the order while hearing an application in a pending petition seeking measures to ensure adequate representation of women advocates in state bar councils across the country.

The bench clarified that all state bar councils where elections are yet to be notified must ensure that 30 per cent of all their seats are represented by women. 

While the top court had previously exempted Punjab and Haryana on December 8, 2025, reasoning that the election process had already commenced. It reconsidered the decision on Friday. 

The bench found that in the case of Punjab and Haryana, the formal election process has not yet begun, and only the final voter list has been published.

The court ordered that the 30 per cent representation of women members would apply "mutatis mutandis" (which means to make necessary changes; however, the main context remains unaffected) to the ensuing elections of the Bar Council of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. 

Furthermore, the bench sought assistance from Attorney General R Venkataramani and Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati regarding a submission to increase the total number of elected members in state bar councils to reflect the rising number of advocates nationwide.

Source: The Tribune