Supreme Court directs states to fund dedicated facilities for women advocates

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has issued directions to all states and union territories to ensure adequate facilities for women advocates in courts across the country. The bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, expressed clear disapproval of the existing gaps in infrastructure and amenities available to women members of the legal profession.

The Court rejected the position that provision of ladies' bar rooms and dedicated washroom facilities should be contingent upon the number of women advocates practising in a particular jurisdiction. The bench emphasized that such facilities should be made available as a matter of principle and professional necessity, irrespective of current female representation in the bar.

The directive forms part of the Court's broader efforts to ensure gender-sensitive infrastructure within the Indian judiciary. The bench noted that appropriate facilities are essential for women advocates to practise their profession with dignity and without facing practical impediments that their male counterparts do not encounter.

The Supreme Court's order represents a significant step towards addressing systemic gaps in court infrastructure. States and union territories have been called upon to undertake immediate assessments of their facilities and prepare action plans for implementation, ensuring that women legal professionals have access to the same standard of amenities as their peers.