March 03, 2026 : The Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association (SCWLA) has issued a sharp condemnation of a Holi Milan programme organised by the Kanpur Bar Association, calling the event “shameful” and demanding immediate accountability from those responsible.
In a press release dated March 1, 2026, the Association expressed “deep outrage” over the reported invitation of belly dancers to perform at the event, alleging that lawyers present were seen filming and objectifying women under the guise of celebration. The statement described the incident as a serious blow to professional ethics, constitutional morality and human dignity.
According to the release, SCWLA said such conduct amounts to grave professional misconduct and ethical delinquency, warranting immediate disciplinary action. It stated that events of this nature create a hostile and unsafe professional environment, particularly for women lawyers, interns, staff and litigants. The Association further observed that recording and circulating videos of such performances aggravates the violation of women’s dignity, autonomy and privacy.
The body has placed a series of specific demands before the concerned authorities. These include an immediate public apology from the Kanpur Bar Association, strict disciplinary proceedings against office bearers and members involved in organising and endorsing the programme, and intervention by the Bar Council of India as well as the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council for swift punitive action. It has also called for the formulation and enforcement of mandatory gender sensitisation guidelines for all Bar Association functions across the country.
Emphasising the seriousness of the issue, the Association stated that Bar Associations are professional institutions and not entertainment clubs. It stressed that court premises and related spaces cannot be converted into venues for conduct that undermines the dignity of women and the integrity of the legal profession.
The statement was issued under the signatures of SCWLA General Secretary Prernaa Singh and President Mahalakshmi Pavani.
