Urgent Need for Increased Representation of Women Judges in India's Supreme Court
Despite the Supreme Court's sanctioned strength of 34 judges, there is a persistent gender imbalance, with Justice B.V. Nagarathna currently being the sole woman judge. Historically, only 11 women have been appointed to the apex court since 1950, representing a mere 3.8% of the total 287 judges. The article argues for institutionalizing gender representation in the Collegium's selection criteria. It highlights that diversity brings unique perspectives and increases public trust. The lack of transparency in the Collegium system and the 'seniority' argument are cited as barriers to female appointments.
Key Points
- Justice B.V. Nagarathna is scheduled to become the first woman Chief Justice of India (CJI) in 2027, but only for 36 days.
- Only five women have ever been part of the Supreme Court Collegium, with only three involved in appointments.
- Diversity in the judiciary should include gender, caste, religion, and regional representation to be truly inclusive.
- The article calls for a written policy in the higher judiciary to make gender representation mandatory.
Exam Facts
- The sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court of India is 34 judges.
- Justice Fathima Beevi was the first woman judge of the Supreme Court, appointed in 1989.
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