Supreme Court now has 4 women judges sitting, highest ever in its history
Among the Supreme Court judges sworn in, were three women judges which meant the Supreme Court now has four sitting women judges, the highest ever in its history.
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New Delhi, Sept 1: In what is meant to be historic for Supreme Court, a record was witnessed as nine new Supreme Court judges took the oath. Among the judges, sworn-in were three women which meant the Supreme Court now has four sitting women judges, the highest ever in its history.
Previously, three sitting women judges, during the period from August 2018 to May 2020 when Justices R Banumathi, Indira Banerjee, and Indu Malhotra were the highest numbers of women judges in the apex court. Now, newly appointed Justices Hima Kohli, BV Nagarathna and Bela M Trivedi, and Justice Indira Banerjee (appointed in 2018) are the women judges in the Supreme Court now.
With their appointments, the Supreme Court has four women judges - the highest ever- among 33 judges. The Supreme Court has had 11 women judges(including the new appointments) in its history so far. It should be noted that 58-year-old Justice Bangalore Venkataramiah Nagarathna who took oath might become the first woman Chief Justice of India in September 2027, if appointments go as per the seniority turn.
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Although her tenure as the CJI would only be for 36 days, India's long wait for the first woman CJI would hopefully end. She would be India’s first woman Chief Justice since the SC came into existence 77 years ago.
Besides, this was the first time when nine judges took the oath of office at one go. To ensure Covid protocols, the swearing-in ceremony was held in the auditorium of the Supreme Court's additional building complex and not the CJI's courtroom where it is traditionally held.
"This is for the first time in the history of the Supreme Court of India when nine judges will be taking the oath of office in one go. In another first, the venue of the ceremony is shifted to the auditorium. This is done keeping in view the need for strict adherence to COVID norms," said a press release issued by the top court's public relations office.
The nine new judges who were administered the oath of office are Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka, Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari, Justice Hima Kohli, Justice B V Nagarathna, Justice C T Ravikumar, Justice M M Sundresh, Justice Bela M Trivedi and Justice P S Narasimha.