CJI Surya Kant Urges High Courts to Prioritize Appointment of Women Judges

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has written to the Chief Justices of all High Courts, urging them to prioritize women candidates for judicial appointments to address low gender representation.

Currently, women account for only 14.27% of High Court judges, with 116 women out of 813 working judges.

While women constitute 36.3% of the district judiciary, the CJI emphasized that suitable women members of the Bar should not be treated as exceptions for elevation to higher courts.

Most High Courts have reportedly responded affirmatively to the communication, which follows the CJI's recent remarks on the necessity of broadening the "pipeline" of talent at its source.