Supreme Court Mandates Facilities for Women Advocates in Lower Courts

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Monday, 26 October 2026

The Supreme Court has directed states and Union Territories to provide funding for dedicated facilities for women advocates in district and taluk courts. The directive aims to improve safety, accessibility, and equality for women working in the legal profession.

According to the report, the court instructed all states and Union Territories to allocate funds for essential amenities, including bar rooms and washrooms for women lawyers. The move seeks to ensure that women advocates have access to appropriate facilities in courts at the district and taluk levels.

The court further clarified that these amenities must be provided irrespective of the number of women advocates practicing at a particular court. The directive emphasizes the need to ensure adequate infrastructure and a more inclusive working environment for women in the legal profession.

Key Highlights:

• Supreme Court orders funding for women advocates’ facilities in lower courts
• Facilities must be provided regardless of the number of women lawyers
• High Courts and states must ensure adequate court infrastructure for women advocates

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana expressed strong disapproval over the absence of bar rooms for women. “If there are no ladies' bar rooms, we strongly disapprove of it. It is the duty of all high courts and state governments to ensure that wherever women members are practicing, they are provided an exclusive women's bar room with all facilities,” the bench said.

“This is the mandate. We do not want to deviate from that. It has to be complied with, whether additional funds or land are required. Whatever is required must be done,” the bench said, according to the report. The matter was posted for hearing on December 2.

The Supreme Court was dealing with a petition by women advocates, which raised issues of gender accessibility, inclusiveness and sustainability of women lawyers in the legal profession.

The court had earlier emphasized the importance of establishing an environment conducive to women advocates to perform their professional duties safely, effectively and on par. The petition had raised the issue of the inadequate facilities for women and other necessary facilities in courts, tribunals and commissions in most of the courts in the country.

The Supreme Court had stated that such anxieties could not be put aside as trivial matters of convenience. Under its newest course, states and UTs must allocate the funds, land and other resources to ensure basic facilities for women advocates to women.

The court also directed High Court infrastructure committees to priorities the creation of women’s bar rooms and essential facilities, while appointing Attorney General R. Venkataramani to coordinate compliance and consolidate progress reports from states and High Courts. The facilities should preferably follow a uniform standard across the country.

During the hearing, the court considered gaps in existing facilities, including reports highlighting inadequate washrooms and the absence of dedicated spaces for women advocates in several court complexes. The directions were issued in Sarika Tyagi v. Union of India, a petition addressing accessibility, inclusiveness, and the long-term sustainability of women’s participation in the legal profession. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on December 2, 2026.