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Judiciary's Female Participants

Government Updates: A Look at Current Political Developments

Judicial Females: Overview of Female Judges in the Legal System
Judicial Females: Overview of Female Judges in the Legal System

Judiciary's Female Participants

In the recently released State of the Judiciary report (2023) by the Supreme Court of India, there is no discussion about future plans or projections for gender balance in the judiciary, nor any initiatives to address the current gender imbalance.

The report does, however, indicate a 3% increase in the Supreme Court and a 4% increase in the High Courts. Yet, the gender imbalance in the Supreme Court, High Courts, and district judiciary remains unspecified in the report.

The dominance of the collegium system in judicial appointments persists, but the lack of women in the judiciary continues to be a pressing issue. A proposal for creating gender-sensitive policies has been suggested to engender the Judiciary. Elevation of women from lower to higher courts is proposed as a means to increase women's representation in the judiciary.

The Chief Justice of India, CJI Ramanna, has advocated for a 50% reservation for women in the judiciary. However, the report does not provide data on the number of women judges at each court level.

One of the challenges faced by women in the judiciary is the lack of supportive infrastructure, such as dedicated washrooms, feeding rooms, and creches. Justice Hima Kohli identified unconscious gender biases in courts as often sidelining women in administrative duties.

Women law graduates from premier institutions show a preference for corporate sector jobs over judicial careers. The Ministry of Law and Justice of India announced that it will conduct a study to identify and address the causes of the lack of confidence among female lawyers in India.

The gender imbalance in the judiciary is not limited to a specific court level, as per the report. The lack of discussion about the challenges faced by women in the judiciary in the report is concerning, as addressing these challenges is crucial for achieving gender balance in the judiciary.

In conclusion, while there are proposals and efforts to increase women's representation in the judiciary, there is a need for comprehensive and well-defined criteria to ensure women's representation at all levels of the judiciary. Addressing the challenges faced by women in the judiciary and promoting gender balance is essential for a fair and inclusive judicial system.

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