Gender Balance In Judiciary Still Incomplete: CJI
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has said gender balance in the judiciary remains an unfinished task, highlighting the low representation of women in the Supreme Court and high courts. Speaking at an event on International Women’s Day at the Supreme Court premises, he called for faster and more deliberate efforts to improve women’s participation on the bench.
Women Judges In Higher Judiciary
The CJI said only one of the 33 judges in the Supreme Court is a woman, while women account for around 15 per cent of judges across high courts. Of the 781 working judges in 25 high courts, only 116 are women. He also noted that over the years, women accounted for just 291 of the 5,161 appointments made to high courts, showing how limited their presence has remained in the higher judiciary.
CJI Calls For More Elevation Of Women
Addressing the theme of equal representation in the judiciary, Justice Surya Kant urged high court collegiums to treat the consideration of meritorious women lawyers as a norm rather than an exception. He said institutional intent alone is not enough and must be backed by practical steps. He also asked courts to widen the zone of consideration and avoid rejecting deserving women candidates solely because they do not strictly meet an age requirement where suitable flexibility is possible.
Judiciary Diversity And Public Confidence
The CJI said greater representation is important not because women bring a different standard of justice, but because they bring a distinct perspective and improve diversity within the institution. He said the judiciary must respond to the concerns of women across the country in a way that inspires confidence in the justice system. He also pointed to some progress, noting that two high courts currently have women chief justices, with that number expected to rise to three.
