Supreme Court Orders Women's Bar Rooms in All Courts; Punjab Has 9 of 67ਸੁਪਰੀਮ ਕੋਰਟ ਦਾ ਹੁਕਮ: ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਅਦਾਲਤਾਂ 'ਚ ਮਹਿਲਾ ਬਾਰ ਰੂਮ, ਪੰਜਾਬ 'ਚ 67 'ਚੋਂ 9

The Supreme Court on Monday, 26 October 2026, directed every State government, Union Territory and High Court to provide exclusive bar rooms, washrooms and basic amenities for women lawyers in district, sub-divisional and taluka courts. During the hearing, the court was told that Punjab had reported washrooms for women in only nine of its 67 court complexes.

What did the Supreme Court order?

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana said a separate women's bar room, with washrooms and other facilities, must be provided wherever women advocates practise, irrespective of how many there are. States must allocate funds where they are not already available, and the building-cum-infrastructure committees of the High Courts must take up the work on priority, according to LiveLaw and The Bar Bulletin.

What was said about Punjab?

Senior advocates appearing for the petitioners told the court that Punjab had admitted in its affidavit that only nine of 67 court complexes had washrooms for women lawyers. Haryana, they said, had not even carried out an inspection after the earlier order. Only 21 of 69 respondents had filed status reports, the court was told. These are submissions made in court, based on the affidavits filed by the states.

"Whether funds or land are needed"

CJI Surya Kant said the lack of ladies' bar rooms was "a very pitiable condition" and that the court strongly disapproved of it. The facilities must be created whether additional funds or additional land are required, he said, adding that the court was only at the stage of execution.

Who coordinates compliance?

Attorney General R Venkataramani has been made the central nodal authority. Advocates General of states will send progress reports to his office, and he will place a compilation before the court. The court wants the pattern of facilities to be uniform across states. Senior advocate Monika Gusain suggested volunteers could verify ground conditions, and the CJI said a video of the actual situation would be more reliable than affidavits.

What happens next?

The petition, Sarika Tyagi v. Union of India (W.P.(C) 770/2026), is listed again on 2 December 2026, when the court is likely to issue comprehensive directions, LiveLaw reported. Earlier hearings had described access to washrooms as a basic human right linked to dignity under Article 21.

Does the order apply to Punjab's courts?

Yes. The direction covers all states and Union Territories, so Punjab and the Punjab and Haryana High Court's infrastructure committee are expected to act on the 67 court complexes in the state.

How many court complexes in Punjab have washrooms for women?

According to the figure told to the Supreme Court, nine of Punjab's 67 court complexes.

When is the next hearing?

On 2 December 2026.