Indira Jaising Questions Collegium’s Elevation of Justice Pancholi Over Senior Women Judges

Senior Advocate Indira Jaising has raised concerns over the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendation to elevate Justice Vipul Pancholi, Chief Justice of Patna High Court, to the Supreme Court.

She questioned why three senior women judges Justices Sunita Agarwal, Revati Mohite Dere, and Lisa Gill, were overlooked. Jaising highlighted the abysmal representation of women in the Supreme Court, with only one woman judge, Justice BV Nagarathna.

She also noted that elevating Justice Pancholi would disproportionately increase judges from the Gujarat High Court, with two judges already likely to become Chief Justices of India.

Justice Nagarathna reportedly dissented, calling Pancholi’s elevation “counter-productive” and raising concerns over the transfer process and Collegium transparency.