उच्चतम न्यायालय (Supreme Court) के योगमाया एम. जी. बनाम भारत संघ मामले के दिशा-निर्देशों के तहत कर्नाटक उच्च न्यायालय (Karnataka High Court) ने लैंगिक विविधता को बढ़ावा देने के लिए वरिष्ठ अधिवक्ता एस. सुशीला और अधिवक्ता विजयाम्मा वी. को कर्नाटक राज्य बार काउंसिल (Karnataka State Bar Council) का मनोनीत (co-opted) सदस्य नियुक्त किया है।
BENGALURU — In a move aimed at enhancing gender diversity within legal administration, the High Court of Karnataka has appointed Senior Advocate S. Susheela and Advocate Vijayamma V. as co-opted members of the Karnataka State Bar Council. The formal appointments were confirmed via an official communication issued by High Court Registrar General M. Chandrashekar Reddy, following consultations between High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and the existing elected members of the state bar administration.
Background and Judicial Mandate
The decision directly aligns with directives established by the Supreme Court of India in the landmark matter of Yogamaya M.G. v. Union of India. Addressing long-standing concerns regarding the minimal representation of female practitioners within elected governing bodies of the legal profession, the apex court empowered Chief Justices of High Courts across the country to nominate two women lawyers to their respective State Bar Councils.
Under the established framework, Chief Justices execute these nominations in active consultation with the elected members of the state council. The process was instituted as an institutional intervention to ensure that decision-making bodies within state bar organizations reflect a broader spectrum of the legal fraternity while electoral rules and broader structural reforms continue to evolve.
Impending Leadership Elections
The co-option of the two senior advocates comes immediately ahead of crucial internal leadership polls for the Karnataka State Bar Council scheduled for October
1. The upcoming elections will determine the council's next Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and its representative to the Bar Council of India.
According to official updates, key nominations filed for the executive posts include:
- Chairman Candidates: Advocates N. Devaraj and Rajanna have submitted their nomination papers for the post of Chairman.
- Vice-Chairman Candidate: Advocate Shivamurthy has filed his candidacy for the Vice-Chairman post.
- Bar Council of India Nominee: Advocate C.M. Dhananjaya has submitted nominations to serve as the council’s representative to the national bar body.
Electoral Structure and Governance Impact
With the inclusion of the two co-opted members, the full electoral body responsible for choosing the upcoming executive office-bearers will consist of 26 members. This electorate comprises the Advocate General of Karnataka, 23 elected council members, and the 2 newly nominated women members.
The integration of nominated female representatives into the voting process marks an important step toward fulfilling the Supreme Court's mandate. Beyond their participation in the upcoming executive election, the co-opted members are expected to contribute directly to the council's ongoing governance, administrative policy decisions, and advocate welfare initiatives across the state.
Description: BENGALURU — Moving to boost gender diversity in legal governance, the Karnataka High Court has co-opted Senior Advocate S. Susheela and Advocate Vijayamma V. into the Karnataka State Bar Council. Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru made the appointments following consultations with elected council members, as confirmed by Registrar General M. Chandrashekar Reddy.
The move follows the Supreme Court’s mandate in Yogamaya M.G. v. Union of India, which empowered High Court Chief Justices to nominate two women advocates to State Bar Councils to tackle female underrepresentation.
The appointees join a 26-member electoral body—alongside the Advocate General and 23 elected members—set to vote in executive leadership elections on October 1 for the council’s Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Bar Council of India representative.