For the first time in 163 years, the Calcutta High Court now has eight women judges. This milestone was achieved after the swearing-in of three additional judges. The increased representation marks a step toward gender balance in the judiciary. It also inspires more women to pursue legal careers despite challenges.
Kolkata: Three additional judges, including one woman, were sworn in at the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday, bringing the total number of female judges to eight the highest in the court’s 163-year history.
In comparison, the Madras High Court and the Punjab and Haryana High Court each have 13 women judges, while the Bombay High Court has 11.
Calcutta High Court ranks fifth in terms of female representation, with some high courts, such as Tripura and Uttarakhand, currently lacking any female judges.
Justice Smita Das De was among the three additional judges sworn in on Tuesday, alongside Justices Reetobroto Kumar Mitra and Om Narayan Rai. She joins Justices Amrita Sinha, Shampa Sarkar, Suvra Ghosh, Ananya Bandyopadhyay, Chaitali Chatterjee (Das), Shampa Dutt (Paul), and Rai Chattopadhyay, contributing to the total of eight female judges.
Although the Calcutta High Court an approved strength of 72, it currently has only 46 judges following Justice Joymalya Bagchi’s elevation to the Supreme Court. Justice Manjula Bose and Justice Padma Khastgir were the first women appointed to the Calcutta High Court in 1977, coinciding with the United Nations International Year of the Woman.
On Tuesday, Justice Das De referenced former Supreme Court judge Indira Banerjee, who advocated for more women to enter the legal profession and ascend to judicial positions for effective justice delivery.
Reflecting on her initial struggles and her thoughts of quitting, she shared,
“I came from a family of doctors but chose to pursue a legal career,”
She expressed gratitude to her mother for supporting her aspirations and encouraging her to remain committed to her career path.
She stated,
“The bench has a significant role in shaping the minds of young aspiring lawyers,”
Senior members of the bar echoed her sentiments. Paritosh Sinha, secretary of the Incorporated Law Society, remarked,
“This is a step in the right direction; it helps maintain a balance and encourages talented lawyers to step up and work hard.”
Senior counsel Amrita Pandey emphasized that having women judges contributes to a better understanding of the personal challenges faced by women both litigants and lawyers.
She noted,
“The increase in female judges in lower courts and high courts opens doors for women in the profession. Many women leave practice after marriage or childbirth, so this representation offers them hope.”
For the first time in its 163-year history, the Calcutta High Court has eight women judges. This milestone was achieved after three additional judges were sworn in, enhancing gender representation in the judiciary.