LUCKNOW, Aug. 14 -- The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has ordered 30% reservation for women advocates in the governing/executive council of the Oudh Bar Association (OBA). The court said at least seven of the OBA's 22 positions must be reserved for women.

A division bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla passed the order on Friday on two public interest litigation petitions raising the issue of reservation for women advocates in the election of OBA office-bearers.

The court has reserved two out of six junior executive positions, two out of six senior executive positions, one out of three joint secretary positions, the treasurer's position, and the senior vice president's position (with 20 years of practice) fo...