Ensure marginalised groups’ representation in MP legal team: SC

NEW DELHI: Taking note of the submission that not a single advocate from the ST community had ever been appointed as a govt lawyer in Madhya Pradesh HC and representation of SCs and OBCs was also very low, Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the state’s advocate general to ensure representation of marginalised communities as well as women.

“If opportunity is not given to them, then how will they emerge?” a bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh remarked while hearing a petition seeking reservation for advocates belonging to the OBC community in appointment of govt pleaders in MP. The court said while it could not pass directives for reservation, the issue should be brought to the notice of the state’s advocate general for remedial action.

Advocate Varun Thakur, appearing for the petitioner, submitted not a single ST advocate had been selected as a govt lawyer since Independence and only a nominal number of SC candidates had been appointed. There was only one woman advocate out of over 100 lawyers appointed. He said the absence of such representation in the advocate general’s office had long-term implications for the legal profession, as govt law officers often go on to be considered for elevation as judges.

‘There is no representation of the people we are representing,” Thakur said.

The lawyer appearing for the state assured the bench that the concerns would be communicated to the advocate general.

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