Kerala bar body elects all-woman panel

The bar association of Pala in Kerala's Kottayam district has created history by electing an all-woman panel on Friday. The 15-member committee will assume office on Saturday after the existing panel hands over the charge. The Supreme Court had last year issued a direction to reserve one-third seats in the executive committee of SC Bar Association for women. The direction was later extended to other bar associations as well. The Pala bar association has gone a step ahead with the all-woman panel, a first in the country. Elections were held only for the president's post, and the remaining 14 were elected unopposed. Usha Menon won the bar association president's post by a margin of 97 votes over her rival P J Josekutty. There are 347 members in the Pala bar, of which 73 are women. The committee includes the president, vice-president, secretary, joint secretary, treasurer and executive committee members.