# Indian Supreme Court mandate on Bar Council women co-option > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/indian-supreme-court-mandate-on-bar-council-women-co-option > Updated: 2026-08-13T06:00:33.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2. The Supreme Court of India issued a directive requiring every State Bar Council to co-opt two women members to increase representation in the legal profession. These nominees are to be selected by the Chief Justice of the respective High Court and must be either former women judges or senior women advocates with established standing. The Court noted that candidates who were unsuccessful in Bar Council elections are not disqualified from being co-opted. Following this order, two women candidates who placed sixth and seventh in recent Bar Council elections petitioned the Chief Justice of India to recall the decision. The petitioners argue that the co-option mechanism was determined without allowing directly affected candidates a “meaningful opportunity to be heard,” contending that their electoral positions should be considered in establishing a fair process. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-13: Women candidates seek recall of Supreme Court order on Bar Council co-option Women candidates in Bar Council elections are seeking a recall of a Supreme Court order regarding the co-option mechanism used to ensure women's representation. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/women-candidates-seek-recall-of-supreme-court-order-on-bar-council-co-option ### 2026-08-04: Supreme Court of India orders co‑option of women to State Bar Councils India's Supreme Court ruled that each State Bar Council must co‑opt two women—former judges or senior advocates—nominated by the state High Court chief justice, and called for swift implementation. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/supreme-court-of-india-orders-cooption-of-women-to-state-bar-councils --- Cite as: Indian Supreme Court mandate on Bar Council women co-option. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/indian-supreme-court-mandate-on-bar-council-women-co-option