SCWLA moves SC for appointment of meritorious women as HC judges

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 6 

Complaining about poor representation of women in higher judiciary, the Supreme Court Women Lawyers’ Association (SCWLA) on Tuesday moved the top court seeking consideration of “meritorious” woman advocates for appointment as high court judges.

Giving a chart of women judges presently posted in various high courts, SCWLA complained about "abysmally low" 11.04 per cent share of women as judges in higher judiciary.

 “From the chart it is reflected that, from the 1079 of sanctioned strength of judges (including both Permanent and Additional Judges) we have 661 number of judges out of which, only 73 number are women judges which accounts for a 11.04 of women judges,” SCWLA submitted.

In ‘M/s PLR Projects Pvt Ltd versus Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd’, the top court has been dealing with the issue of unfilled vacancies of judges in high courts. Seeking to intervene in the matter, SCWLA urged the court to make it a party in the case pending before a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde.

 “Since independence till date, there have been only eight (08) women judges appointed in the Supreme Court out of total 247 judges appointed from 1950 till as on date (2020),” it said, adding, currently Justice Indira Banerjee was the lone woman judge in the Supreme Court.

It has sought a direction to “consider meritorious women lawyers practicing in Supreme Court and High Courts for appointment of judges in High Courts”. The plea has also sought a direction to the Centre to incorporate in Memorandum of procedures (MOP) the provisions and consideration of appointment of women judges in high courts.

 “To issue an appropriate order/direction to the Secretary, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice, government of India to expedite the process of inclusion and appointment of women judges on meritorious ground to the respective Supreme Court and High Court Benches,” it said.

Referring to constitutional provisions on equality, SCWLA said the higher judiciary should have adequate representation for women after giving due weightage to the merit.

 “The women's participation in the justice delivery system is an important factor for societal progress and gender equality,” it said, referring to the concern expressed by Attorney General KK Venugopal on gender gap in higher judiciary.

“Improving the representation of women could also go a long way towards a more balanced and empathetic approach in cases involving sexual violence,” it said. 

On March 25, the top court had said the Centre should respond to the Collegium’s recommendations within a reasonable time frame.

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