The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 20 May issued notice to the Centre, all states, and Union Territories on a public interest litigation seeking a mandatory 30 per cent reservation for women advocates in government legal panels and law officer appointments across India. The bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, agreed to take up the matter and listed it for further hearing next week.

What the PIL Demands

The petition, filed by Ladli Foundation Trust, seeks a court direction to implement a minimum 30 per cent reservation for women advocates in all High Court panels, government law officer positions, and all Central and State Government as well as Public Sector Undertaking legal panels. The plea argues that government empanelments are critical professional platforms that shape visibility, career progression, and prospects for judicial elevation — and must therefore reflect the constitutional mandate of equality.

Key Data Cited in the Petition

The PIL relies on empirical data showing that women constitute only around 25.3 per cent of panel lawyers across major states, with several states reporting even lower figures. Crucially, the petition points out that no woman has served as Attorney General for India or Solicitor General of India since Independence, and none of the Additional Solicitors General assigned to various High Courts are women. The plea contends that despite constitutional guarantees under Articles 14 and 15(3), women continue to face systemic exclusion from institutional legal opportunities.

What the SCBA Survey Found

Senior advocate and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Vikas Singh, who appeared for the petitioner along with advocates Varun Singh and Mudit Gupta, urged the court to act on a recent SCBA nationwide survey. The survey found that a majority of women advocates believe government panel appointments are easier for men, and called for a mandatory policy to ensure adequate representation. 'This is pursuant to the SCBA survey on women in the legal profession. They need to be included in government panels,' Singh submitted before the bench.

Legal Basis and Precedent

The petition draws on recent Supreme Court directions that mandated reservation for women in bar association governing bodies, arguing that similar affirmative measures are constitutionally permissible — and necessary — in government legal empanelments. According to the plea, the process of empanelment 'is expected to reflect the constitutional mandate of equality and inclusivity,' yet empirical data demonstrate that women remain severely underrepresented in such positions.

What Happens Next

With notices now issued to the Centre, states, and UTs, the respondents will be required to file their replies before the next hearing, currently scheduled for next week. The outcome of this case could set a binding precedent for how the state selects its legal representatives before constitutional courts, tribunals, and other judicial forums across the country.