In a significant order, the Supreme Court on Monday directed that 30% of the seats in the State Bar Councils - where elections are yet to be notified- must be represented by women advocates.

For the present year, the Court ordered that 20% of the seats should be filled by way of election of women members, and 10% by co-option. The Court directed that a proposal for co-option be placed before it with respect to councils where the number of women may be inadequate.

The Court observed that it may not be prudent to earmark seats for women in the six bar councils where the election process has already started.

"However, we have to ensure that women members who are contesting/proposing to contest elections in those four Bar Councils of Andhra Pradesh, Punjab & Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Telan

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