The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Saturday voiced worry about the very small number of women serving as judges in the Supreme Court and high courts throughout India. The association passed a resolution asking the Chief Justice of India and the Collegium to give serious attention to appointing more women judges in upcoming judicial selections. It pointed out that some high courts, including Uttarakhand, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Manipur, do not have a single woman judge at present. Of the approximately 1,100 sanctioned posts in the high courts, nearly 670 are occupied by men, just 103 by women, and the remaining positions are still unfilled.
No Woman Judge Appointed Recently
The SCBA voiced its dissatisfaction over the recent Supreme Court appointments, noting that no woman judge was chosen from the Bar or the Bench. It highlighted that since 2021, the Supreme Court has not seen the appointment of any woman judge, and at present, only one woman judge remains on its bench.
Letter to the Chief Justice
The association also shared that its president, Vikas Singh, had written to Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai on May 24 and July 18. In the letters, he requested that women should be given at least proportional representation in appointments to the Supreme Court and high courts.
Call For Gender Balance In Judiciary
According to the SCBA, better gender balance in the judiciary is important not just for equal representation, but also to strengthen people’s trust in the system. It added that having more women on the Bench would enrich judicial thinking and ensure that the diversity of Indian society is reflected in the country’s highest judicial institution.
