“The legal profession currently lacks a level playing field. I urge senior advocates to move away from recruiting based solely on personal networks or connections. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) could facilitate a fair process by listing seniors interested in recruitment, allowing for applications and interviews. This approach will ensure that women can succeed,” CJI Chandrachud said.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud has called for a shift in how senior advocates recruit juniors to their chambers. Speaking on Friday, he emphasized that recruitment should not rely on personal connections or networks but should be based on a formal process of applications and interviews. This approach, he believes, will level the playing field and enhance the participation of women in the legal profession.
CJI Chandrachud pointed out that women have excelled in various fields when given equal opportunities, and the judiciary should be no exception. He urged senior advocates to avoid hiring based on personal networks and suggested that the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) could facilitate this process by listing seniors who are open to recruitment.
Women have thrived in any field where equal opportunities are provided, including the judiciary,”
stated CJI Chandrachud.
“The legal profession currently lacks a level playing field. I urge senior advocates to move away from recruiting based solely on personal networks or connections. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) could facilitate a fair process by listing seniors interested in recruitment, allowing for applications and interviews. This approach will ensure that women can succeed,”
CJI Chandrachud said.
He praised Justice Hima Kohli, the ninth woman judge of the Supreme Court, for her contributions and sensitivity in addressing issues affecting women in the legal profession.
“Recently, during a Lok Adalat session, I encountered young judicial officers from the Delhi judicial academy. I discovered that 78 out of 108 new recruits to the Delhi district judiciary are women. This indicates that increased access to education for women has led to their success when given equal opportunities, demonstrating that women thrive when the playing field is level,”
the CJI noted.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud emphasized the critical importance of mental well-being for judicial officers who handle a wide array of cases and the emotional burdens carried by the parties involved. He stressed the need for these officers to find a balance between their demanding professional responsibilities and their mental health.
“These multifarious responsibilities bring extraordinary challenges. It is difficult for a judge not to be affected by the actual face of suffering that each of us encounters every day – a family which is coming face to face with a gruesome crime, an undertrial who is languishing for years or the children in a parental matrimonial dispute. Judges are, despite being professionals, affected by their own brush with reality. Their mental health may suffer as a consequence,”
he remarked.
CJI Chandrachud further highlighted that the issue of mental health is often overlooked and does not receive the necessary attention it deserves. He pointed out that the inclusion of mental health and well-being of district judicial officers in the two-day conference would promote a healthy discussion on work-life balance.
“This aspect is of great consequence, but it unfortunately does not receive the attention that it merits. As a step towards a more open discussion on the topic, the third session today is on judicial wellness, with a focus on holistic wellness, stress management, mental health, and quality of life. I hope that the discussion will bring to your attention practices which not only enhance your ability to discharge your duties effectively but enrich your lives,”
he said.
Justice Chandrachud also highlighted the increasing representation of women in the judiciary, citing significant figures from recent recruitments.
“Women consisted of 58% of the total recruitment for Civil Judges in Rajasthan in 2023. 66% of the judicial officers appointed in Delhi in 2023 were women. In Uttar Pradesh, 54% of the appointments for Civil Judge (Junior Division) in the batch of 2022 were women. In Kerala, 72% of the total number of judicial officers are women,”
he shared, presenting it as a promising sign for the future of the judiciary.
However, the CJI did not shy away from addressing the challenges faced by female judges, referring to a particular incident where a young female district judge faced disrespect. “A young district judge from a rural court recently shared her experiences.
She said that while most members of the bar were respectful, a few lawyers frequently addressed her disrespectfully and with condescension. The issue appeared to arise solely due to her age and gender. Such instances can be disheartening. Your support to your younger colleagues at such times would be invaluable and would strengthen the fabric of the judicial institution,”
he emphasized.
In his concluding remarks at the ‘National Conference of the District Judiciary,’ which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CJI reiterated the foundational role of the district judiciary within the judicial system. He emphasized that it should no longer be referred to as subordinate.
“The district judiciary is the first point of contact for a citizen in search of justice. The district judiciary is a crucial component of the rule of law,”
Justice Chandrachud declared, underscoring its indispensable role in upholding justice.
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CJI Chandrachud also mentioned that women professionals can succeed in the legal field without compromising their femininity, bringing compassion and unique traits to their roles.
Supreme Court Bar Association President Kapil Sibal echoed these sentiments, urging the Collegium to appoint more women judges to the High Courts and Supreme Court, and to recognize the expertise of women lawyers in commercial law firms.
