The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) passed a resolution on Saturday and expressed serious concern over the very low presence of women in the country’s courts. The association said that the representation of women judges in the Supreme Court and High Courts is very uneven and worrying. According to the Bar Association,
Regarding this, the association also passed a resolution under the leadership of Chairman Senior Advocate Vikas Singh and Secretary Priya Baghel. This step came 1 day after Justice Alok Aradhe and Vipul M Pancholi took oath as Supreme Court judges.
Earlier, on August 26, Justice BV Nagaratna, the only female judge of the Supreme Court, had also registered disagreement on the appointment of Justice Pancholi. At the same time, several women lawyers, including senior advocate Indira Jaisingh, have also objected that Justice Pancholi was appointed as three senior women’s High Court judges.
Association said-The last appointment of women in SC was in 2021
SCBA has appealed to the collegium to give priority to women judges in all the appointments. The association said that the last appointment of women in the Supreme Court was in 2021, neither the bar nor the bench found a place in the recent appointments.
The association also stated that Chairman Vikas Singh had written a letter to the then Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud in May and July demanding to ensure the same representation of women judges.
August 26- Justice Biwi Nagratna objected to the appointment of Justice Pancholi
Supreme Court Judge Biwi Nagratna lodged a strong protest on the recommendation of the collegium on August 26 on the recommendation of the collegium to make Patna High Court Chief Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi a judge in the Supreme Court. He said, “This appointment can prove to be harmful for the judiciary.” If Justice Pancholi becomes a judge in the Supreme Court, he can become a CJI in October 2031.
According to sources, Justice Nagratna disagreed in May itself. Then for the first time the name of Justice Pancholi came out. Justice NV Anjaria was later appointed to the Supreme Court before Justice Pancholi. Three months later, when the name of Justice Pancholi was revealed again, Justice Nagratna formally registered disagreement.
