Get To Know Justice Fathima Beevi, India’s First Woman SC Judge

Fathima Beevi has broken the proverbial glass ceiling by becoming the first woman judge of the Supreme Court. She has also worked towards gender equality in the political scenario through her stint in politics. In a patriarchal society, Beevi has gone ahead to prove her mettle. On April 30, Beevi turned 90. Here are a few facts you must know about the gutsy lady:

• She was born in a small village of Pandalam down south in Kerala.

• Beevi studied in the Catholicate High School in Pathanamthitta. She then went on to do her graduation in Bachelor of Science from the University College in Trivandrum.

•  Her stint in the field of law began when after her graduation, she went on to study law from the Government Law College. Beevi was first enrolled as an Advocate on 14^th November, 1950.

• Her first step in law began in the lower judiciary of Kerala in 1950. Interestingly, this was the same year when the Supreme Court was set up.

• She rose through various ranks working as Munsiff in the Kerala Subordinate Judicial Services, as a Subordinate Judge, as a Chief Judicial Magistrate, as a District & Sessions Judge, as a Judicial Member of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal. In 1983, she was inducted as a High Court Judge.

• In 1989, Beevi became the first woman to be inducted as a judge in the Supreme Court. With this, India became the first country in entire Asia to have the first female Supreme Court judge.

ALSO READ: Supreme Court Has Only One Female Judge

• After her retirement, Beevi served at the member of the National Human Rights Commission. She also served as the Governor of Tamil Nadu from 1997 to 2001.

•  She received the Hon. D. Litt and Mahila Shiromani Award in 1990. She was also honoured with the Bharat Jyoti Award and the US-India Business Council (USIBC) Lifetime Achievement Award.

Picture credit- Limitless