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Only 116 Women Judges in India's Higher Judiciary of 814, Data Shows

Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal presented data showing that women constitute only a small fraction of judges in India's Supreme Court and High Courts. Out of a total working strength of 814 judges in the higher judiciary, merely 116 are women, with the Supreme Court having only one female judge. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has the highest number at 18, while the High Courts of Uttarakhand, Tripura, and Manipur have no women judges at all. The government stated that while there is no reservation in judicial appointments, it is committed to enhancing social diversity and has requested High Courts to consider suitable candidates from underrepresented groups.

Key Points: 116 Women Judges in SC, High Courts: Govt Data on Diversity

  • 116 women judges in higher judiciary
  • Only 1 woman in Supreme Court
  • 3 High Courts have zero women judges
  • Appointment follows Collegium system
2 min read

116 judges out of 814 in SC, High Courts are women: Govt

Govt data reveals only 116 women judges in India's higher judiciary of 814. Punjab & Haryana HC leads with 18, while 3 HCs have zero women judges.

"the Union government is committed to enhancing social diversity in judiciary - MoS Law & Justice"

New Delhi, Feb 6

Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, said on Friday that as many as 116 women judges are currently serving in the Higher Judiciary which has a working strength of 814, with Punjab and Haryana High Court having the maximum number of 18.

Replying to a query in the Lok Sabha, MoS Meghwal shared data on the working strength and number of women judges in the Supreme Court and High Courts showing that at present, of the 33 Supreme Court judges, only one is a woman.

He said that since 2014, 170 women judges have been appointed in the High Courts, including 96 in the last five years and six in the Supreme Court.

The data showed that Allahabad High Court which has the largest working strength of 110 judges has seven women judges.

It showed that the Bombay High Court has the second highest number of work women judges at 12, followed by Delhi and Madras High Courts with 10 each.

The High Courts of three states of Uttarakhand, Tripura and Manipur have no representation of women in their benches.

The MoS said the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts is made under Articles 124, 217 and 224 of the Constitution of India, which do not provide for reservation for any caste or class of persons.

MoS Meghwal said that only those persons who are recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium, are appointed as Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.

"As per the Memorandum of Procedure, the responsibility for initiation of proposals for appointment of Judges in the Supreme Court vests with the Chief Justice of India, while the responsibility for initiation of proposals for appointment of Judges in the High Courts vests with the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court," he added.

However, the Union government is committed to enhancing social diversity in judiciary and has been requesting the Chief Justices of High Courts that while sending proposals for appointment of Judges, due consideration be given to suitable candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, minorities and women to ensure social diversity in the appointment of Judges in High Courts.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see the numbers improving since 2014. 170 women judges appointed in HCs in that time is a positive trend. The collegium system should definitely prioritize merit, but also actively look for meritorious women candidates. It's about creating a pipeline.
A
Aditya G
The fact that three High Courts have zero women judges is unacceptable. How can we have faith in a system that doesn't reflect half the population? The government's request for "due consideration" needs to turn into a concrete, time-bound action plan.
S
Sarah B
While diversity is important, we must be careful. The judiciary's independence and the merit of appointments are paramount. We shouldn't move towards quotas in the higher judiciary, as the Minister pointed out the Constitution doesn't allow for it. Let's focus on encouraging more women to enter the legal profession at the ground level.
M
Meera T
It's not just about numbers. Women judges bring different lived experiences and perspectives, especially in cases involving domestic violence, custody, or sexual assault. This makes our judiciary more robust and empathetic. The collegium must recognize this intrinsic value.
K
Karthik V
Punjab & Haryana HC leading with 18 women judges is commendable! Shows it can be done. Other states, especially the ones with zero, need to learn. The data sharing is a good first step for transparency. Now we need accountability for improvement.

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