Supreme Court Issues Notice On Challenge To Bombay HC Ruling Excluding Women Advocates From POSH Act

The Supreme Court has issued notice on a plea by the Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association challenging the Bombay High Court’s ruling that the POSH Act does not apply to women advocates, since they are not employees of bar councils. 

The petition argues that directing women lawyers to rely on Section 35 of the Advocates Act denies them statutory safeguards such as confidentiality, timelines and interim relief. 

It contends that bar councils must maintain POSH-compliant mechanisms, noting that some of the Bar Councils, like, Bar Council of Delhi, already follow such practices.