Around 60 pc women entering judicial services on merit, not reservation: SC
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday said around 60 per cent of judicial officers are women entering the judicial services on the basis of merit and not due to reservation.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to the Centre, Bar Council of India, secretary general of the apex court and others on a plea seeking framing of a uniform and gender-sensitive policy for allotment of professional chambers/cabins to women advocates in different courts and bar associations across the country.
Justice Kant questioned the plea seeking reservation in chamber allotment to women advocates and said that he is personally against chamber system and instead there should be cubicle system and common sitting space, where lawyers can work.
"We have been speaking at various forums and highlighting how more and more women are entering judicial services. Almost 60 per cent of judicial officers entering the services are women and they are doing it on merit not reservation. I find it a little bit paradoxical as to why are women advocates seeking any privilege, when they can achieve it on the basis of merit?" Justice Kant said.
The bench said that if the court is to consider the request of women advocates for preferential allocation of chambers, then the other day it could be a case of specially abled persons.
Senior advocate Sonia Mathur, appearing for petitioners Bhakti Pasrija and others, said at present only Rohini court has 10 per cent reservation in chamber allotment for women.
Justice Kant said the space for advocates in the new building of the apex court has been constructed keeping in view the need for the next 50 years.
Justice Bagchi said the need is to safeguard young women advocates entering the profession by providing facilities like creche, separate washrooms and other facilities, as they are the ones who drop out of the profession to take care of their children.
The petitioners, who are practising women advocates, have claimed that despite practice of 15-25 years, they were not allotted any chamber or professional space and asserted that the present chamber allotment scheme of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) was without any reservation for women advocates.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Mamata asks TMC candidates of recent polls to rebuild party, says 'those who want to leave can go'
Kolkata (PTI): After the TMC faced an electoral setback, party supremo Mamata Banerjee urged its candidates who contested the recent assembly polls to rebuild the organisation, asserting that those wishing to quit the party were free to do so.
At a meeting with the Trinamool Congress' contesting candidates at her Kalighat residence on Friday, attended by its national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, she said the organisation would rise again despite suffering a crushing defeat in the recently concluded assembly elections.
"Those who are leaving for other parties, let them go. I will rebuild the party afresh. To those who are staying, I say rebuild the damaged party offices, paint them and reopen them. If needed, I too will paint them. Trinamool Congress will never bow down. People's mandate has been looted," Banerjee was quoted as saying by party sources.
The remarks came days after the TMC was reduced from the ruling party to the opposition benches following a dramatic reversal in electoral fortunes.
Of the 294 assembly seats in the state, the party managed to win only 80.
Mamata Banerjee herself suffered defeat in Bhabanipur, long considered her political bastion.
The TMC had fielded candidates in 291 seats, leaving three seats in the Darjeeling hills to its ally Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) led by Anit Thapa. Of these, only 80 candidates emerged victorious, while 211 lost, including several heavyweight leaders and ministers.
The meeting at Kalighat was convened for candidates who had contested the elections on the party's ticket amid reports of internal discontent and speculation over possible defections after the electoral debacle.
The meeting echoed Banerjee's remarks made a day after the results were declared. Addressing a press conference on May 5, the party supremo had said she was aware that some leaders might switch camps.
"I know many will leave for other parties. They may have their own compulsions. I have nothing to say about that. Whoever wants to go may go. I do not believe in forcibly holding anyone back," she had said.
The TMC's official X handle later posted photographs of the meeting and praised the contesting candidates for their fight during the election campaign.
"Today, our Hon'ble Chairperson @MamataOfficial and our Hon'ble National General Secretary @abhishekaitc met with our contesting candidates at Kalighat. They fought with unmatched courage despite facing unimaginable atrocities and relentless intimidation.
"The Trinamool Congress stands united as one family. We will never bow before those who loot the people's mandate. Truth will prevail," the party posted on X on Friday.
The post also reiterated the party's charge that the electoral mandate had been "stolen", a claim repeatedly raised by TMC leaders after the poll results.
Party insiders said Banerjee used the meeting to boost the morale of candidates who had contested the polls and send a message of unity amid a difficult phase for the organisation.
Today, our Hon'ble Chairperson @MamataOfficial and our Hon'ble National General Secretary @abhishekaitc met with our Hon'ble Parliamentarians, at Kalighat.
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) May 14, 2026
Bengal has been burning under @BJP4India's watch. Violence, fear, and chaos have engulfed the state over the past few days… pic.twitter.com/nYGdiIAdYD
