Today, On 15th March, Justice Nagarathna emphasized that at least 30% of law officers representing the Centre and state governments should be women. She highlighted the need for greater gender representation in legal positions. Ensuring more women in these roles would promote equality and diversity. Her statement calls for stronger efforts to bridge the gender gap in the legal field.
Mumbai: Supreme Court Justice BV Nagarathna emphasized the importance of reserving seats for women in gram panchayats and advocated for at least 30 percent of law officers representing the Union and state governments to be women.
Speaking at a seminar titled “Breaking Glass Ceiling: Women Who Made It,” organized by Mumbai University, Justice Nagarathna called for the elevation of competent women advocates to high court judges to enhance diversity on the bench.
She questioned,
“If male advocates under 45 years can be appointed to high courts, why not their competent female counterparts?”
Justice Nagarathna stressed the need to break free from outdated gender roles, stating,
“There is no virtue for success that is exclusive to men and lacking in women.”
She highlighted that younger women often lack role models and mentors to inspire and guide them in the legal profession.
She noted,
“It is vital that we recognize the importance of women who have shattered the glass ceiling while also acknowledging those whose contributions may not make headlines but are equally significant,”
The judge further stated that the lives of ordinary women, primarily as mothers, wives, and caregivers, deserve recognition.
She added,
“These women, though their importance is not always visible, hold the fort for their families, and managing households requires considerable leadership, intellectual ability, and creativity,”
Justice Nagarathna pointed to the positive impact of political representation for women in India’s rural areas, where reservations in panchayati raj institutions have led to 1.4 million elected representatives, fostering gender sensitivity in policymaking.
However, she remarked that despite a law mandating 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament, it has yet to be implemented.
Noting that the benefits of women in power extend to the commercial sphere as well, she stated,
“As of 2024, women held only 14 percent of Lok Sabha seats and 15 percent in Rajya Sabha, with less than 7 percent in ministerial roles,”
Justice Nagarathna asserted that the judiciary must be sensitive, independent, and free from biases at all levels. While the number of female graduates from top law schools is nearly equal to their male counterparts, this does not translate into equal workplace representation or advancement.
She explained,
“Their upward mobility is hindered by systemic discrimination. Gender diversity is particularly crucial in professions that serve society, where women’s presence is vital for upholding equality and fairness, especially for disadvantaged groups,”
She concluded by reiterating that at least 30 percent of law officers representing the Central or state governments, as well as those empaneled as legal advisors in public sector units and state agencies, should be women.
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