Women's Representation in Supreme Court Remains Low Despite Pioneering Appointments
Justice Fathima Beevi, appointed in 1989, remains the sole woman judge from a minority faith in the Supreme Court. Despite her pioneering role, women's representation in the highest court remains low, with only 11 women judges appointed since 1950.
Justice Beevi's appointment was a milestone, but progress has been slow. As of now, women make up just 3.8% of all Supreme Court judges. The last appointment of women judges was in 2021, with three women joining the bench. However, the average age at appointment for women is higher, often preventing them from serving in the Collegium or becoming Chief Justice of India, as seen with Justice Nagarathna's brief tenure.
In High Courts, the situation is slightly better, with 14.27% of judges being women. Yet, there's no institutionalised mandate for gender representation in constitutional courts. The Supreme Court has directed Bar associations to have 30% women in elected seats, but this doesn't extend to the judiciary. The Collegium decides appointments, but its selection criteria remain unclear.
The underrepresentation of women in the Supreme Court is a persistent issue. While legislative bodies and judicial councils have expressed the need to prevent gender discrimination, explicit quotas or criteria for supreme court judge appointments are yet to be established. Addressing this imbalance requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders.
Read also:
- Executive from significant German automobile corporation advocates for a truthful assessment of transition toward electric vehicles
- Crisis in a neighboring nation: immediate cheese withdrawal at Rewe & Co, resulting in two fatalities.
- United Kingdom Christians Voice Opposition to Assisted Dying Legislation
- Democrats are subtly dismantling the Affordable Care Act. Here's the breakdown