New Delhi: When 60-year-old Venkata Subramani Mohana took oath on Tuesday as a judge of the Supreme Court, she became part of a small group of 12 women judges among a total of 289 who have served on the bench in its over 76-year journey. Justice Mohana is the second advocate to be elevated directly as a Supreme Court judge after Justice Indu Malhotra.
Historical Milestones for Women in the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court had an all-male composition until October 6, 1989, when Justice Fathima Beevi became the first woman judge of the apex court during the tenure of Chief Justice E S Venkataramiah. Notably, his daughter Justice B V Nagarathna is set to become the first woman Chief Justice of India next year.
The second woman judge in the Supreme Court was Justice Sujata Manohar, who took oath on November 8, 1994, during the tenure of Chief Justice A M Ahmadi, and retired on August 27, 1999.
Progress Since 2000
Since 2000, there have been 10 more women judges. The first among them was Justice Ruma Pal, elevated on January 28, 2000. She narrowly missed becoming the first woman Chief Justice of India, retiring as the most senior judge in June 2006. It took the collegium more than a decade to recommend another woman Supreme Court judge: Justice Gyan Sudha Misra, who took oath on April 30, 2010, during the tenure of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan.
Record Under Chief Justice N V Ramana
Chief Justice N V Ramana's tenure created a historic milestone. Three women judges—Justices Hima Kohli, Bela M Trivedi, and B V Nagarathna—took oath on the same day, August 31, 2021. This record is unlikely to be broken in the near future.
Justice Mohana's elevation marks a significant step toward greater gender diversity in the highest judiciary, though women still represent a small fraction of the total judges appointed since independence.
