Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Sunday urged High Court collegiums across the country to actively consider meritorious women advocates for elevation to the Bench, stressing that their appointment should become a “norm and not an exception.” Speaking at the first national conference of Indian Women in Law, the CJI emphasised the need for institutional reforms to ensure fair representation of women in the higher judiciary.
Addressing the conference themed “Half the Nation – Half the Bench: Bridge the Gap – Balance the Bench,” the Chief Justice said that women in the legal profession are not seeking special concessions but rightful representation that has long been overdue.
“They are seeking fair and appropriate representation, which has long been due. Only when the profession itself internalises this truth will the pathway to the Bench become clearer,” the CJI said, drawing applause from women lawyers and members of the judiciary attending the event.
The CJI also called on High Court collegiums to broaden the scope of their consideration when recommending judges. He suggested that, where necessary, collegiums should include women advocates practising in the Supreme Court who belong to the concerned state while evaluating candidates for elevation.
He stressed that reforms aimed at improving representation must be embedded within institutional processes rather than relying on individual initiatives.
“If progress is to be meaningful, it must be institutionalised. The story should not be that one individual secured greater representation, but that the Supreme Court and the High Courts consciously embedded fairness into their processes,” he said.
Highlighting the long-term nature of such reforms, the CJI remarked that structural change would require sustained commitment beyond the tenure of any individual judge.
“We must all understand that reform of this nature is not an event; it is a continuous process. The cultivation of institutional fairness requires persistence beyond individual tenures and beyond individual personalities,” he noted.
CJI Kant pointed out that meaningful change would occur when representation becomes embedded within the institutional framework rather than depending on individual resolve.
He observed that progress was already visible within the judiciary. According to him, several women currently serve as Chief Justices of High Courts, while the Punjab and Haryana High Court has as many as 18 sitting women judges. The Madras and Bombay High Courts also have around a dozen women judges each.
The CJI also highlighted the growing presence of women in the district judiciary, describing it as a strong indicator of future transformation in the higher courts.
“With women comprising approximately 36.3 per cent of the working strength of judicial officers at the district level, the foundation is steadily strengthening,” he said, adding that the trend reflects a generational shift in the legal system.
He noted that as more women enter and excel in the legal profession, their increasing representation on the Bench is both natural and necessary. However, he cautioned against complacency, saying that while the momentum is encouraging, the journey toward equitable representation is far from complete.
Reflecting on the historical barriers women faced in the profession, the CJI recalled that barely a century ago, women in India were not even permitted to practise law under colonial rule. The progress achieved since then, he said, has been significant but remains incomplete.
He also acknowledged the challenges women continue to face in the profession, including late-night work schedules, inadequate facilities, workplace bias, and repeated questioning of authority.
Despite these obstacles, he said, many women have excelled in the field because of their commitment to the profession’s ideals.
“Every woman who takes her place on the Bench sends a clear message to those still facing these obstacles that your perseverance is not unseen and it is not in vain,” the CJI said.
The event was attended by several prominent members of the legal fraternity, including former Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and sitting Supreme Court judges Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan. Senior advocates Shobha Gupta and Mahalakshmi Pavani, associated with the organisation Indian Women in Law, welcomed the guests at the conference.
