During an event commemorating International Women’s Day 2024 organized by the Ladies Group of Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF), Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta expressed concerns about token measures aimed at advancing women in the legal profession. He argued that such symbolic gestures might ultimately harm women’s interests. SG Mehta highlighted the distinction between professional positions and elective offices, suggesting that special seats should not be reserved for women to ensure their leadership roles.
According to SG Mehta, women are fully capable of succeeding in the legal profession without relying on tokenism. He emphasized that many women achieve success despite facing gender-related obstacles. He cautioned against reducing women to mere statistics, citing the example of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as evidence that individual success should not be measured solely by numerical representation.
Addressing the audience, SG Mehta noted the historical reverence for women in India and suggested that women are inherently powerful and dominant. He urged men to take the lead in promoting equality.
Dr. Lalit Bhasin, president of SILF, echoed concerns about the lack of women in influential roles and institutions, citing the example of the National Human Rights Commission, which has never appointed a woman as commissioner.
Shweta Bharti, Managing Partner at Hammurabi & Solomon Partners, emphasized the economic and business implications of gender diversity and equality in the legal profession, citing studies showing that diverse teams make better decisions.
