SCBA HIGHLIGHTS GENDER IMBALANCE IN HIGHER JUDICIARY, CALLS FOR URGENT ACTION TO APPOINT MORE WOMEN JUDGES:

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has raised serious concerns over the markedly low representation of women in the higher judiciary, encompassing both the Supreme Court and the High Courts, and has urged the Collegium to prioritize gender diversity in upcoming judicial appointments. In a resolution passed on August 30, 2025, the SCBA highlighted that several High Courts, including those in Uttarakhand, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Manipur, currently have no women judges. Nationwide, out of nearly 1,100 sanctioned posts for High Court judges, approximately 670 are occupied by men, whereas only 103 are held by women. The Association expressed strong disappointment over the recent round of judicial appointments, noting that no women were considered, and emphasized that since 2021, no woman judge has been appointed to the Supreme Court. At present, Justice B.V. Nagarathna remains the sole woman judge on the apex court bench.

The SCBA recalled that its President, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, had previously written to the Chief Justice of India on May 24, 2025, and again on July 18, 2025, urging that women receive at least proportional representation in higher judicial appointments. The resolution stressed that achieving greater gender balance on the Bench is essential not only for ensuring fair and equal representation but also for bolstering public confidence in the judiciary. A more gender-inclusive Bench, the SCBA observed, would enrich judicial perspectives, ensure that a wider array of experiences is represented in judicial decision-making, and reflect the diverse fabric of society in the administration of justice.

In line with these concerns, the SCBA resolved to request that the Chief Justice of India and the Collegium give urgent and serious consideration to the appointment and elevation of more women judges in the forthcoming rounds of judicial selections for both the Supreme Court and the High Courts. The Association underscored that a proactive approach in this regard is necessary to address the long-standing gender imbalance and to ensure that qualified women candidates are not overlooked. The SCBA’s call for action gains added significance in the context of recent controversy surrounding the appointment of Justice Vipul Pancholi to the Supreme Court, where questions were raised regarding why he was preferred over at least three senior women judges who were eligible for elevation.

The Association emphasized that judicial appointments must reflect a commitment to diversity, equity, and merit, ensuring that the Bench mirrors the demographic composition and societal values of the country. The SCBA concluded that meaningful gender representation is critical for strengthening the credibility and legitimacy of judicial institutions, and that continued underrepresentation of women undermines public trust and limits the range of perspectives available in judicial deliberations. Accordingly, it urged the Collegium to take corrective measures in the upcoming appointments to ensure that women judges are appropriately represented across all levels of the higher judiciary, thereby promoting a more inclusive and representative judicial system.