Former Advocate General Seeks 33% Women’s Reservation in Chhattisgarh Bar Bodies

Bilaspur: Advocate Shri Satish Chandra Verma, former Advocate General of Chhattisgarh and senior advocate, has written to the Registrar General of the Chhattisgarh High Court seeking the implementation of 33 percent reservation for women advocates in the High Court Bar Association and the Chhattisgarh State Bar Council.

In his letter, Verma referred to directions issued by the Supreme Court of India, which mandate that one-third of the seats in the executive committees of bar associations be reserved for women advocates. He emphasized that at least one key office-bearer post, such as Secretary or Treasurer, should be exclusively reserved for women to ensure their participation in positions involving significant responsibility.

The letter further states that 30 to 33 percent of the total executive committee seats must be earmarked for women advocates. It also underlines that the specific reserved office-bearer post should rotate in every election cycle so that women advocates gain exposure to all leadership roles. Verma suggested that if the Treasurer’s post is reserved for women in the 2026 elections, then posts such as Secretary or Vice President should be reserved for women in the subsequent term to ensure a progressive leadership cycle.

Shri Satish Chandra Verma was born on October 14, 1973. He completed his early education at St. Paul School and a Government School in Raipur. He pursued a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Raipur and later completed his L.L.B. from Kusum Tai Dabke College, Raipur. He enrolled with the Bar Council of Madhya Pradesh, Jabalpur, in 1997 and began his legal career thereafter.

Verma practiced at the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Jabalpur, until October 2000, and subsequently continued his practice at the High Court of Chhattisgarh in Bilaspur from November 2000. Over the years, he has handled a wide range of matters, including cases involving constitutional validity, challenges to state policies, high-profile criminal cases in Chhattisgarh, and matters related to the State Bar Council of Chhattisgarh and various lawyer associations across the state.

His legal expertise was formally recognized when he was appointed Additional Advocate General of Chhattisgarh on January 2, 2019, a post he held until May 31, 2019. He was thereafter appointed Advocate General of the State of Chhattisgarh on June 1, 2019, where he played a key role in representing the state and safeguarding its legal interests. His long-standing experience and consistent engagement with the legal system have made him a prominent figure in Chhattisgarh’s legal community.