The Supreme Court, on Friday, sought response from the Indian government and the Bar Council of India on a plea challenging the Bombay High Court’s order which stated that the POSH Act does not apply to complaints made by advocates against other advocates before bar councils.
The top court was hearing an appeal filed by the Supreme Court Women Lawyers’ Association, represented by senior advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani and assisted by advocate Sneha Kalita, against the Bombay High Court’s verdict dated July 07, 2025.
According to a report carried out by The Hindu, the petition argued that the High Court has left femle lawyers helpless as it upheld that the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act), will not apply to bar councils.
It questioned the High Court’s ruling that women lawyers may approach bar councils under Section 35 of the Advocates Act, 1961. The petitioner contended that Section 35 concerns the disciplining of advocates for professional misconduct, which is distinct from sexual harassment.
