Plea in Supreme Court for appointing women judges

Putting the focus on the dismal number of women judges in the higher judiciary, the Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association has petitioned the apex court, asking it to consider its plea that meritorius women lawyers practising in the Supreme Court and the high courts be considered for appointment as judges in the high courts.

In an intervention plea filed in an ongoing matter, the women's lawyers association said it was concerned about the inadequate number of women in the higher judiciary as women's participation in the justice delivery system is an important factor for societal progress and gender equality which would further reflect the country's commitment towards these cardinal issues.

It was pointed out in the petition that since independence, there have been only eight women judges appointed in the Supreme Court out of a total of 247 judges appointed between 1950 and 2020. Currently, the women lawyers said in the plea, Justice Indira Banerjee from West Bengal is the only sitting woman judge in the Supreme Court, and out of the 25 high courts, only Telangana High Court has a woman chief justice.

The petition, drafted by Advocate-on-Record Sneha Kalita and settled by senior advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani, stated that out of 661 judges in the high courts, only 73 are women.

It said that the present Memorandum of Procedure for appointment of judges in the high courts and the Supreme Court does not reflect any specific provision concerning the insufficient and lower representation of women in the higher judiciary.

The women lawyers stated in the petition that the Supreme Court may consider suggestions for considering the elevation of meritorious women lawyers practising in the apex court as well as in the high courts for appointment as judges in the high courts. They said the apex court may also include provisions in the MoP for considering appointment of women judges.