Madras HC Gets All-Women Bench For The First Time

For the first time in 135 years of its existence, Madras High Court has got an all-women bench. The feat was achieved after the recent appointment of Justice Bhavani Subbaroyan as junior judge. The HC is currently headed by Chief Justice Indira Banerjee.

Talking about how this would encourage more girls to opt for law as a profession,senior advocate and former additional solicitor general of India P Wilson told TOI, "It was a pleasant sight to watch the judges in action, and it is bound to inspire the large number of our women colleagues as well as young girls joining the legal profession and law colleges. Already, 33% of Tamil Nadu's subordinate judiciary is manned by women."

Madras high court currently has seven women judges.

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"Having an all-women bench is a proud moment for the chartered Madras high court. It is in fact an indication of what is to come," said advocate-activist R Santhakumari, president of the Tamil Nadu Federation of Women Lawyers and former president of Women Lawyers Association (WLA). "Though we have been demanding at least one-third representation for women on the bench, it now looks even 50% is achievable, that too without any formal reservation or quota," she added.

S Prabakaran, co-chair man of the Bar Council of India (BCI) and president of the Tamil Nadu Advocates Association (TNAA), is optimistic about the recent surge in the number of girls joining the profession. She feels that law has now become a promising profession just like software, architecture, medicine and accountancy.

An all-women bench in Madras is a indeed great step towards boosting political participation of women in India.

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Charvi Is An Intern With SheThePeople.TV