The Supreme Court on Tuesday approved the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) proposal for filling the 10% co-opted seats reserved for women in State Bar Councils, paving the way for implementation of its earlier direction ensuring 30% representation of women in these statutory bodies.

The Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana accepted the BCI’s proposal that the highest-polling unsuccessful women candidates in State Bar Council elections shall be considered for co-option wherever the number of elected women members falls short of the mandated quota. The Court observed that this would preserve the democratic character of the election process while ensuring adequate representation for women advocates.

The Court had earlier directed that 20% of seats be filled through elections and the remaining 10% through co-option to secure a minimum 30% representation for women in State Bar Councils. Monday’s order finalises the mechanism for filling those co-opted seats.