30% Women Quota in State Bar Councils Non-Negotiable; Shortfall Should Be Bridged Through Co-option — Supreme Court

The article discusses a petition before the Supreme Court of India where it was held that the 30% women quota prescribed for State Bar Councils is non-negotiable. The Court mandated that if electoral processes fail to produce enough female members, the shortfall must be filled via co-option to meet the statutory threshold. The order aims to promote gender representation and inclusion in legal profession bodies, ensuring institutional compliance with gender equity norms. The court’s direction takes forward long-pending demands for better female representation in bar governance and emphasizes that statutory quotas cannot be undermined by lack of electoral turnout.