Here’s Why India’s Judiciary Requires Greater Numbers of Women in Charge
Despite political and social transformation, India’s judiciary remains tainted with subdued gender hues. N. V. Ramana, ex-Chief Justice of India, used to be of the view that in the absence of numbers, gender diversity would result in tokenism. If the judiciary is to represent the nation it serves, greater visibility of women is a matter of epic proportions.
The Stark Numbers
Only 11 women judges have been on the Supreme Court in the last 75 years.
Only 14% women judges sit on the bench in the High Courts.
The lower courts are slightly better at 34–37% women judges, even that does not necessarily trickle down to the most senior topmost appointment of judges.
Why Representation Matters
Legitimacy and credibility: A representative judiciary is one which is given more trust and respect by society.
Competently well-versed judgments: Women introduce new insights and experience to enhance judicial judgments.
Judgmental quality: Gendered sensitivity cases, family law cases, and employment discrimination cases all improve with equal benches.
Barriers to Women’s Progress
Unpredictable appointment process: Collegium process not clear, often skipping meritorious woman candidates.
Bukharized promotion: Promotion of woman judges at successive stages of their life, so they don’t get higher posts to rise.
Vacuum in leadership: The woman Chief Justice of India has occurred only once in 25 High Courts.
Ripple Effect of Underrepresentation
Case pendency: Judicial appointments lead to pendency, which can be cured by growing number of woman judges.
Decreased expectations: Invisibilised woman leadership retards women law graduates.
Loss of faith: An undiverse court can lose faith of the people.
The Way Ahead
Act positively on judicial appointments, with proper respect to women.
Rectify the appointment process on open and merit lines.
Offer career guidance and mentoring to lady advocates to build pipeline for best court appointments.
Carry out research on structural changes such as an All-India Judicial Service to bring in uniformity, diversity, and efficiency in appointment-making.
Conclusion: Not equality of issue—to prepare the bench women-friendly—but empowering justice. An equal bench is more stable, encourages better adjudication more, and motivates women generations towards a career in law. For being credible and believed, the judiciary must match the society it adjudicates.
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