38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, October 31, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

Caste reservation in bar body to open Pandora's box in absence of empirical data: SC

By Jhanak Sharma      17 February, 2025 01:34 PM      0 Comments
Caste reservation in bar body to open Pandoras box in absence of empirical data SC

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday said ordering reservation on the basis of caste in the Bengaluru Advocates Association elections would open a "pandora's box" in the absence of any empirical data.

Supreme Court’s Stand on Caste Reservation in Bar Elections

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh said the issue is a sensitive one and the court would neither permit bar members to be divided on caste lines nor allow it to be politicised.

The bench, however, felt that in the absence of any empirical data, reservation on a caste basis cannot be done.

Empirical Data Lacking for Caste-Based Reservation in Bengaluru Advocates Association

"It will open a Pandora's Box. Without any empirical data, it can't be done. Reserving seats for women was a different thing. We will not permit bar members to be divided on caste lines or let the issues to be politicised," the bench said.

Appearing for an NGO, senior advocate Madhavi Divan contended that in the past 50 years, not even one member from the SC/ST or OBC categories were elected to the governing body of the Advocate Association of Bengaluru.

she said there should be diversity in key positions, while throwing light on the reservation and affirmative actions in bar body elections in other countries.

In its plea, NGO Advocates for Social Justice sought a direction for reservations in the upcoming Bengaluru Bar Association elections to members belonging to SCs, STs, and OBCs.

The bench, however, opined at the moment the court was "handicapped" in the absence of relevant data.

The court said parliamentarians of the country were sensitive enough to ensure adequate representation of different communities in key positions. The bench said whenever a legislation comes for reservation, many debates happen on the issue and there are also deliberations with expert bodies.

"Different data are collected and made available. With informed knowledge, you can take appropriate decisions. As of today, in the absence of relevant data, we are completely handicapped," the bench said.

However, the top court said it would examine the “serious question” in another pending petition relating to reforms in bar associations.

The bench said there are serious arguable issues from both sides, which can be deliberated in a healthy atmosphere.

“We don't want different bar bodies to be divided on such grounds. This is not our intention," it added.

The apex court decided to tag the matter with a pending issue on the strengthening of bar associations, which is scheduled for a hearing on February 17.

In January this year, the court modified its order and allowed Advocate Association of Bengaluru to create a post of vice-president in the bar body.

Exercising its plenary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, the court had on January 24, reserved the post of treasurer in the Bengaluru Advocates Association for women lawyers.

The court also accepted a plea by a counsel for relaxing the 10-year experience criteria to allow more participation from young lawyers in the governing council. 
 



Share this article:

About:

Jhanak is a lawyer by profession and legal journalist by passion. She graduated at the top of her cl...Read more

Follow:
FacebookTwitterLinkedinInstagram


Leave a feedback about this
Related Posts
View All

Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations

After A.K. Bassi, another CBI officer who was investigating corruption allegations against Special Director Rakesh Asthana moved the Supreme Court.

Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land

SC bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi has allotted the dispute site to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, while directing the government to allot an alternate 5 acre land within Ayodhya to Sunni Waqf Board to build a mosque.

Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi

The court guided all states to document their response to the commission's report within four weeks. If any of the states fail to file a response, it will be presumed that they have no objections to the recommendations made by the commission, the court said.

Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts

On April 18, 2020, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended new Chief Justices for three High Courts. Justice Dipankar Datta was proposed as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, succeeding Justice B.P. Dharmadhikari. Justice Biswanath Somadder was nominated as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, while Justice Mohammad Rafiq was recommended for transfer as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.

TRENDING NEWS

sc-hints-at-pan-india-guidelines-on-timeline-to-frame-charges
Trending Judiciary
SC hints at pan-India guidelines on timeline to frame charges

SC mulls pan-India guidelines to curb delays in framing charges; notes cases where charges aren’t framed even after years despite BNSS mandate of 60 days.

30 October, 2025 12:22 PM
limitation-for-continuous-breach-runs-only-till-contract-expiry-kerala-hc-clarifies
Trending Judiciary
Limitation for Continuous Breach Runs Only Till Contract Expiry: Kerala High Court Clarifies [Read Judgment]

Kerala HC clarifies that for continuous breach of contract, limitation under Article 55 starts when breach ceases; once contract ends, breach cannot continue.

30 October, 2025 01:37 PM

TOP STORIES

sc-quashes-uapa-arrests-holds-remand-courts-explanation-cannot-replace-written-grounds-of-arrest
Trending Judiciary
SC Quashes UAPA Arrests, Holds Remand Court’s Explanation Cannot Replace Written Grounds Of Arrest [Read Order]

Supreme Court quashes UAPA arrests, ruling that remand court’s explanation cannot substitute the mandatory written grounds of arrest.

25 October, 2025 11:10 AM
ngt-orders-probe-into-illegal-tree-felling-in-delhis-civil-lines-directs-action-within-three-months
Trending Environment
NGT Orders Probe into Illegal Tree Felling in Delhi’s Civil Lines, Directs Action Within Three Months [Read Order]

NGT directs Tree Officer to probe illegal tree felling in Delhi’s Civil Lines and take action under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994.

25 October, 2025 11:28 AM
gauhati-hc-quashes-fir-against-cnn-news18-anchor-akansha-swarup-over-kamakhya-temple-remarks
Trending CelebStreet
Gauhati HC Quashes FIR Against CNN-News18 Anchor Akansha Swarup Over Kamakhya Temple Remarks [Read Order]

Gauhati HC quashes FIR against CNN-News18 anchor Akansha Swarup, ruling her Kamakhya Temple remarks were careless but lacked malicious intent.

25 October, 2025 11:43 AM
delhi-hc-upholds-divorce-on-cruelty-grounds-denies-alimony-to-financially-independent-wife
Trending Judiciary
Delhi HC Upholds Divorce On Cruelty Grounds, Denies Alimony To Financially Independent Wife [Read Judgment]

Delhi HC upholds divorce on cruelty grounds, denies alimony to IRTS officer wife, ruling that alimony is for need-based justice, not enrichment.

25 October, 2025 12:10 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email