Chief Justice Surya Kant’s Commitment to Women’s Representation
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has pledged to take significant steps to enhance the representation of women in the legal profession. During a recent interaction at the Oxford Union, Justice Kant responded to concerns about retaining and advancing women lawyers, acknowledging that while more women are entering the field, many face challenges sustaining long-term careers at the Bar.
CJI Kant expressed his commitment to creating a supportive environment that encourages women not only to join the legal profession but also to thrive within it. “I am not a person who only makes statements; I am actively working on creating a robust mechanism to ensure women can build and demonstrate their professional capabilities in the legal sector,” he stated.
Progress in Judicial Appointments
Highlighting progress on the judicial front, Justice Kant recalled his tenure with the judicial selection committee in Punjab and Haryana, where the percentage of women judicial officers increased from 26-27% to 46%. He noted that women now constitute nearly 47-48% of the district judiciary in several states, reflecting a positive trend towards gender parity.
The CJI also referenced his influence in appointing a woman judge to the Supreme Court, underscoring his dedication to diversifying the judiciary.
Addressing Challenges on the Bar Side
Justice Kant identified the larger issue of gender representation within the Bar. At a Supreme Court Bar Association conference in Bengaluru, one proposed solution was to ensure 50% representation of women among government law officers and counsel. Additionally, the CJI emphasized the importance of enforcing reservations for women in Bar Associations and Bar Councils, cautioning that failure to implement such measures would lead to action.
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Tackling Case Pendency
The Chief Justice also spoke on the pressing issue of case pendency in the Supreme Court, countering claims that it would take centuries to resolve the backlog. He expressed optimism that ongoing reforms would yield significant improvements, including increasing judge strength, grouping similar cases for common judgments, encouraging mediation, and adopting a national judicial policy.
“I am confident that by the end of this year, we will have concrete figures demonstrating how we are addressing arrears,” he assured.
Justice Kant praised the contributions of young lawyers, particularly in complex cases like the Sabarimala hearings, noting their role in driving technological reforms within the judiciary.
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Future Initiatives
The CJI emphasized that not all pending cases should be classified as “arrears,” explaining that new cases enter pendency statistics immediately, even as procedural steps are underway. He conveyed confidence that current initiatives would effectively manage pendency and set a precedent for future improvements.
Justice Kant’s address at the Oxford Union was part of an event organized by the Oxford Law Society and the Oxford Union, alongside Tanvi Dubey, Advocate on Record at Oxford University, focusing on “Constitutional Promise to Digital Reality: Safeguarding Justice in the Age of AI and Technological Advancement.”
