Addressing the First National Conference of Indian Women in Law, Chief Justice of India (CJI) emphasized the need for greater women representation in the judiciary.
Current status of Women in Judiciary
- Supreme Court: Only 1 woman judge (out of 33)
- High Courts: 14.85% of judges are women
- District Courts: ~37% women judges
Reasons for Low Representation
- Seniority-cum-merit criteria: Favouring long tenures traditionally dominated by men.
- Structural Barriers: Due to Male-dominated collegium appointment system there is limited representation in senior positions in the Bar.
- Workplace Issues: Women face gender bias, poor infrastructure, etc. hindering professional growth.
- Leaky pipeline: Women enter judiciary but fewer reach higher courts despite qualifications.
Importance of women in Judiciary
- Ensuring Gender Equality: Promotes equal participation in decision-making.
- Gender-Sensitive Justice: Women judges bring diverse life experiences that influence judicial reasoning.
- Public Trust and Legitimacy: A representative judiciary enhances credibility of the justice system.
- Role Models: Encourages more women to enter the legal profession and judiciary.
