WOMEN WHEN INVITED TO TAKE SEATS AS JUDGES, DECLINED THE OFFER, CITING DOMESTIC RESPONSIBILITIES - CJI SA BOBDE

15th April 2021

When invited to take seats as judges, CJI SA Bobde said that many women declined the offer, citing domestic responsibilities about children studying in 12th.

The Bench was hearing an application filed by the SC women lawyers association seeking directions to consider competent and meritorious women lawyers for appointment of Judges in HC.

During the hearing, Adv Shobha Gupta and Adv Sneha Khali argued that only 11 per cent of judges in India are women. The application further highlights that till now, Only 8 women judges have been appointed in the SC; only one (1) HC out of 25 HCs in the Country has a woman CJI (Telangana HC). States like Manipur, Meghalaya, Patna, Uttarakhand and Tripura still do not have a single woman judge. As per article 14 and 15(3) of the constitution, the higher judiciary should have an adequate representation of women.

The CJI said, "Why just HC? Time for a woman to become Chief Justice of India has come". Justice Kaul added and supported CJI that many women lawyers offered a position have declined judgeship offers.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal

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