CJI Surya Kant Urges High Court Collegiums to Prioritise Women Lawyers for Judgeship

New Delhi | 8 March 2026 Surya Kant, the Chief Justice of India, has called for stronger institutional reforms to increase the representation of women in the higher judiciary. Speaking at the first national conference of Indian Women in Law in New Delhi, he encouraged high court collegiums across the country to actively consider qualified women lawyers for judgeship. He stressed that deserving women advocates should be considered as a standard practice rather than an occasional exception. During his address on the theme “Half the Nation – Half the Bench Bridge the gap – Balance the Bench,” the CJI highlighted that women in the legal profession are not asking for special treatment but for fair representation. He said, “They are seeking fair and appropriate representation, which has long been due. Only when the profession itself internalises this truth, will the pathway to the Bench become clearer.” He also urged high court collegiums to broaden their selection pool by considering women advocates from their respective states who are practising in the Supreme Court of India. CJI Kant emphasised that meaningful change in the judiciary requires consistent institutional efforts rather than relying on individual initiatives. According to him, reforms should become part of the system so that fair representation continues beyond the tenure of any single judge. He also pointed out that if suitable women candidates are not immediately available within a certain region or age group, it should not become a reason to delay their inclusion. Highlighting progress already made, the CJI noted that several women are currently serving as Chief Justices in different high courts. He mentioned that the Punjab and Haryana High Court has around 18 women judges, while the Madras High Court and Bombay High Court also have about a dozen female judges each. He added that women now make up around 36.3 percent of judicial officers in district courts, which signals a positive shift. According to him, as more women enter and succeed in the legal profession, their presence on the Bench must naturally grow to ensure a more balanced and inclusive judiciary. CJI Surya Kant Calls for Greater Representation of Women in Higher Judiciary Surya Kant, the Chief Justice of India, has urged high court collegiums across the country to give more opportunities to qualified women lawyers when considering appointments to the Bench. Speaking at a conference organised by Indian Women in Law in New Delhi, he said deserving women advocates should be considered for judgeship as a regular practice and not as a rare exception. Addressing members of the legal community, the CJI emphasised that women lawyers are not asking for special privileges but for equal and fair representation. He said, “They are seeking fair and appropriate representation, which has long been due. Only when the profession itself internalises this truth, will the pathway to the Bench become clearer.” He also encouraged high court collegiums to include women advocates practising in the Supreme Court of India who belong to their respective states while considering candidates for elevation. The Chief Justice highlighted that improving representation in the judiciary requires consistent institutional reforms rather than temporary efforts. He stressed that the process should become a permanent part of the system so that fair opportunities continue even beyond individual tenures. CJI Kant also pointed out that women’s participation in the judiciary is gradually increasing. He noted that several high courts, including the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Madras High Court and Bombay High Court, already have a notable number of women judges. At the district level, women now make up around 36.3 percent of judicial officers, showing a positive shift toward a more balanced judiciary.