The Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted the newly elected members of the Kerala State Bar Council to approach the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court in connection with the co-option of women members, an issue arising from the Court’s direction for 30% effective representation of women in State Bar Councils. The Court’s earlier directions contemplated achieving the representation through 20% election and 10% co-option. The matter was heard by the Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana.

The question of how the two co-opted women members should be selected had been under consideration in the Supreme Court’s broader Bar Council election proceedings. The Court had earlier authorised the Bar Council of India to evolve uniform, transparent and fair criteria for co-option, after consulting newly elected State Bar Council members and other stakeholders.

Pursuant to this, by an order dated August 4, 2026, the Supreme Court authorised the Chief Justices of the respective High Courts to undertake the co-option of women members to the concerned State Bar Councils, thereby providing the mechanism for giving effect to the Court’s direction on women’s representation.

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