Balancing the Bench: Call for More Women in Judiciary

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant advocates for meaningful institutional reforms to increase women's representation in the judiciary, urging high court collegiums to consider qualified women from the Bar for judgeship as a norm. He highlights ongoing positive trends and stresses the need for continuous commitment to change.

The Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, emphasized the necessity for systemic reforms to boost women's representation within the judiciary. Speaking at a conference, he encouraged high court collegiums to standardize the appointment of qualified women from the Bar, shifting the focus from exception to norm in judgeship considerations.

Highlighting promising signs of progress, CJI Kant mentioned the increasing number of women serving as judges in high courts, such as Punjab and Haryana, Madras, and Bombay. The growing presence of women as judicial officers at the district level, he argued, signifies a generational shift that will soon permeate higher judiciary ranks.

CJI Kant called for a sustained institutional commitment to women's representation, stressing that reforms should anchor in systemic changes rather than being dependent on individual efforts. By strengthening institutional fairness, he believes enduring change can be achieved, urging for immediate action and continuous advocacy to balance the bench effectively.

(With inputs from agencies.)