The Supreme Court of India has firmly dismissed objections concerning the inclusion of retired Justice Jaishree Thakur as a member of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana. This decision was rendered on Wednesday during a hearing presided over by a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.
The objections arose from the fact that Justice Thakur previously served as the Returning Officer for the Punjab and Haryana Bar Council elections. As counsel raised this point, the Court responded with a strong repudiation.
CJI Surya Kant remarked, “What is the problem with you people? One of the finest judges and the strongest judges has been nominated for Punjab. They are so happy that she is there. People are afraid of her.” This response underscores the Court’s confidence in Justice Thakur’s capabilities and reputation.
In a landmark order dated December 8, 2025, in the case of Yogamaya MG vs. Union of India and others, the Supreme Court mandated that women should constitute 30 percent of State Bar Council members. This directive specified that 20 percent of these seats should be filled through election and the remaining 10 percent via co-option. To facilitate this, the Court, on August 4, reinforced the mechanism for incorporating the 10 percent co-option quota.
According to the mechanism, two women should be co-opted from among former women judges of the jurisdictional High Court or from senior women members of the Bar who have a respectable standing and belong to the relevant State or Union Territory. Pursuant to this, the Punjab and Haryana High Court recently nominated former Justice Jaishree Thakur and Senior Advocate Gursharan Kaur Mann as members of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana.
The Supreme Court’s decision aligns with its broader initiative to enhance gender representation in State Bar Councils, ensuring that women’s voices are increasingly heard and represented in the legal domain. This strategic move aims to foster a more inclusive legal environment across India.
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