Justice Mini Pushkarna said greater representation of women in leadership roles strengthens institutions and leads to more inclusive decision-making. Speaking at an event by the Indian Council of Arbitration, she stressed that justice deepens when diverse perspectives shape policies and decisions.
Justice Mini Pushkarna of the Delhi High Court recently highlighted the crucial role of women in leadership while speaking at a symposium organised by the Indian Council of Arbitration on the theme “Where women lead, justice follows.” In her address, the judge emphasised that diversity in leadership strengthens institutions and deepens the idea of justice in society.
Speaking at the event, Justice Pushkarna said that when leadership is influenced by diverse opinions and experiences, it leads to better and more inclusive decision-making. She explained that women leaders often bring perspectives shaped by their lived experiences, which helps institutions function in a more balanced and collaborative way.
Highlighting the importance of women’s participation in leadership roles, she said,
“When we say women lead, justice follows, it is because experience has shown us that their leadership has altered institutions in lasting and enduring ways.”
The judge also pointed out that justice should not be seen as something limited only to courtrooms or legal decisions delivered at the end of a case. Instead, justice should be understood as a broader concept that touches everyday life and social structures.
Explaining this idea, she stated that justice includes fairness in opportunities, equality in treatment and respect for people’s dignity in their daily lives. In this context, she remarked,
“fairness in opportunity, equality in treatment and dignity in a lived experience”.
Justice Pushkarna stressed that justice must operate not only within courts but also across different spaces in society, including homes, workplaces, corporations, government institutions and other decision-making bodies. According to her, true justice can be achieved only when these spaces become inclusive and representative.
She raised an important question regarding women’s participation in leadership roles, asking,
“Can justice really expand in any meaningful sense if women are underrepresented in leadership roles and excluded from decision-making?”
The judge acknowledged that women today have greater access to education and economic participation compared to earlier times. However, she cautioned that participation alone cannot be treated as true representation.
According to her, real representation requires women to hold leadership positions where important decisions are taken. She emphasised this point by saying,
“For true representation, more women need to occupy leadership positions in these spaces so that decisions that are taken are more just.”
Justice Pushkarna also spoke about the importance of decision-making positions in shaping justice in society. She noted that policies, administrative decisions, judicial rulings and corporate resolutions are all taken by individuals who hold authority, and these decisions can either strengthen or weaken justice.
She warned that the gap in women’s representation in leadership must be addressed to ensure deeper justice in institutions. Stressing the transformative role of women’s empowerment, she said,
“If justice is to deepen, this gap definitely must close. When you empower a woman, you empower a society and build a nation. Where women lead, perspective widens. And where perspective widens, institutions evolve. And where institutions evolve, justice deepens. And when women sit at the table where decisions are taken, constitutional promises move closer to a lived reality.”
During her speech, Justice Pushkarna also referred to the significant role played by women in shaping India’s constitutional and social justice framework through landmark legal battles. She mentioned important cases such as the Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum judgment on maintenance rights for divorced Muslim women, the legal challenge to instant triple talaq that culminated in the landmark verdict in Shayara Bano v. Union of India, the Supreme Court’s ruling expanding access to abortion rights for unmarried women in X v. Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare Department Govt of NCT of Delhi, and the historic workplace sexual harassment guidelines laid down in Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan.
Through these examples, the judge underlined how women’s participation in legal struggles and leadership positions has played an important role in shaping constitutional jurisprudence and expanding rights in India.
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