The Gujarat High Court has issued notices to the Bar Council of Gujarat and all elected and non-elected candidates in the recently concluded Bar Council elections, responding to a petition filed by a woman candidate who alleged that the election results failed to ensure adequate representation of women advocates as per Supreme Court directions.
Petitioner's Allegations
Advocate Manisha Parikh, treasurer of the Metropolitan Court Bar Association and a candidate in the Bar Council elections, challenged the election results declared on March 21. She argued that according to Supreme Court guidelines, 30% of seats should be reserved for female candidates, which amounts to five seats. However, only three female candidates were declared elected.
Misinterpretation of Supreme Court Order
According to the plea filed through advocate Y N Ravani, the election authorities misread the Supreme Court's December 2025 order and wrongly applied a Bar Council of India communication dated December 23, 2025. Parikh contended that women candidates who secured positions in the overall merit list should not have been counted against the separate quota intended to secure minimum representation.
Parikh stated that two women candidates were already placed within the first 18 elected candidates at positions 10 and 14. She argued that five additional seats should have been identified for women candidates who did not make it through the general list. This would have placed her at No. 4 in the women's category, entitling her to be declared elected along with another candidate, Bhumika Patel.
Relief Sought
Parikh has sought partial quashing of the March 21 notification and requests the court to declare Parikh and Patel elected while canceling the election of two candidates — Bharat Bhagat and Haresh Nakrani — who are shown at Nos. 19 and 20.
Court Proceedings
After the hearing, Justice H M Prachchhak sought replies from the Bar Council of Gujarat and all candidates who contested the elections by June 30, when the next hearing has been scheduled.
