Madhya Pradesh High Court: In a petition filed by a female advocate challenging the Rewa Bar Association’s Elections due to a lack of mandatory 30 percent reservation for women, the Division Bench of Sanjeev Sachdeva, CJ., and Vinay Saraf, J., restrained the Rewa Bar Association from holding its elections till the next date of hearing.
Background
The petitioner, a female advocate, filed the present petition challenging the notification dated 7th March 2026 issued by the Rewa District Advocates Association on the ground that there was no reservation of 30 percent for women candidates in the election process as per the Supreme Court’s directions issued in Deeksha N Amruthesh v. State of Karnataka1.
The Supreme Court mandated that there shall be a 30percent 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. Where the number of women lawyers enrolled with such Bar Associations falls significantly short of 30 percent, those available may serve on their governing body. The Supreme Court further mandated that, where there are enough women members and, for some reason, they cannot contest the election, the District Judges are authorized to nominate women members to the Executive Committee or their respective Bar Association. The Supreme Court also 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.
Considering these directions issued by the Supreme Court, notice was issued by the Court seeking information as to whether there is a reservation of 30 percent in the upcoming election of the Rewa Bar Association.
Analysis
The Court noted that no such reservation was made in the upcoming election of the Rewa Bar Association for women lawyers. Furthermore, the nominations fell way short of even 10 per cent of the candidates contesting for various posts. The polling for the said election was scheduled to be held on 25th March 2026.
Considering the Supreme Court’s mandatory directions for 30 percent reservation for women in the Executive Committee, the Court restrained the Rewa Bar Association from holding its elections till the next date of hearing.
The Court also issued notice to the Bar Council of Madhya Pradesh and the District Judge, Rewa. Furthermore, the Chief Election Officer was apprised of the order and requested to defer the polling.
[Jatindar Kaur v. Bar Council of MP Jabalpur, WP No. 10351 of 2026, decided on 24-03-2026]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the petitioner: Ashish Singh Baghel
For the respondent: Surya Nath Pandey
1. SLP(C) No.1404/2025
