[dropcap]T[/dropcap]HE Supreme Court today issued notice to the Central Government, Bar Council of India and its Chairman on a public interest petition seeking directions to formulate a social security scheme for women advocates in coordination with respective state bar councils.
The Public Interest Litigation petition has highlighted the harsh reality of the court environment for women advocates and raised issues such as the lack of security provisions within the court premises, inappropriate conduct of some male advocates and the lack of maternity benefits. The petitioner, Indu Kaul also submitted that the chamber blocks in the court premises had no policepersons deployed.
“Male and female restrooms have a common wall and are often found poorly lit which again makes it vulnerable for lady advocates when they use the restroom facility,” she contended in her petition.
The petitioner had earlier demanded a CBI inquiry into the murder of advocate Darvesh Yadav inside the Agra District Court premises during a victory procession on her election as president of the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council. The court had then asked the petitioner to approach the jurisdictional high court (Allahabad) to seek relief.
