Women's Bar Room Required in District and Taluka Courts Wherever Women Advocates Practise, Irrespective of Strength: Supreme Court

The writ petition of Sarika Tyagi and others against the Union of India and others concerns the amenities and facilities to be provided to women members of the Bar, on which the Court has already issued directions (para 2). On 26.10.2026, 16 States and High Courts were reported to have filed compliance reports, and more parties handed over status reports and compliance affidavits in Court (para 1). The Attorney General for India said he is in regular communication with the States and Union Territories through their Advocates General or Standing Counsel, and proposed to place on record a comprehensive report compiling what each State Government, Union Territory Administration and High Court has provided and is required to provide (para 2).

The Court emphasised that all State Governments/UTs and High Courts are ‘obligated to ensure’ that, wherever women members of the Bar practise in District Courts and Sub-Divisional (Taluka) Courts, ‘a separate and exclusive Women's Bar Room must be provided, irrespective of their strength’ (para 3). The space may be proportionate to the number of women members of the Bar and shall include basic amenities, such as washrooms (para 3). It accordingly directed all State Governments and UT Administrations to allocate the necessary funds and land, and the ‘Building and Infrastructure Committees’ of the High Courts to address the issue as a priority and see to the facilities being established in all District and Taluka Courts (para 3). Progress reports from the Advocates General and the Union Territories' Standing Counsel are to go to the Attorney General's office for compilation (para 4). The pattern of basic amenities and facilities should ‘preferably be uniform’ across all States and Union Territories (para 5). The order fixes no date for compliance and records no finding against any State or High Court.