CJI urges High Courts to consider female Supreme Court advocates for bench

The Chief Justice of India has appealed to collegiums across High Courts to broaden their consideration when identifying candidates for judicial appointments, specifically requesting they look beyond their immediate geographical jurisdictions to include qualified women advocates from their respective states who are currently practising before the Supreme Court.

The CJI's directive addresses a significant gap in judicial diversity, highlighting the need for High Court collegiums to think beyond traditional recruitment patterns. By including women advocates with experience in Supreme Court litigation, the collegiums would gain access to a pool of seasoned legal professionals with proven expertise and exposure to complex constitutional matters.

This initiative reflects an ongoing effort within India's judiciary to enhance gender diversity on the bench. Women remain significantly underrepresented in higher judicial positions, despite growing numbers of accomplished female advocates in active legal practice.

The recommendation is expected to serve as guidance for collegiums in upcoming appointment cycles, potentially opening pathways for more women advocates to transition from practice to judicial roles. Such moves could help bridge the representation gap and bring diverse perspectives to judicial decision-making across India's High Courts.