Bengaluru event tackles gender disparity in Indian judiciary

A national consultation took place in Bengaluru to address the low representation of women in India's higher judiciary. Held on March 22 and 23, the event was organized by the Centre for Law and Policy Research. It brought together judges, legal experts, and civil society members to discuss barriers that limit women's advancement in the judiciary. Currently, women hold only 14.42% of High Court judge positions and just 6% of Supreme Court judges. There have been only 11 female Supreme Court justices in history, and no woman has ever served as Chief Justice in the past 75 years. Justice B.V. Nagarathna is set to become the first female Chief Justice in 2027, but her term will last just 36 days. The consultation highlighted the need for transparent judicial appointments and reforms to create more inclusive practices. It also focused on the unique challenges faced by women from marginalized backgrounds. The goal is to promote women's leadership in the judiciary through legal and institutional changes. The event featured a panel discussion on the role of bar associations in fostering gender diversity. Prashanth Kumar, the president of the Bar Association of India, expressed his commitment to ensuring that half of the State secretaries are women by implementing mentoring programs and promoting reforms in criminal law.