Justice Without Women? SCBA Sounds Alarm on Gender Disparity in Judiciary
(Judicial Quest News Network)
New Delhi, August 30, 2025 — The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has voiced serious concern over the stark underrepresentation of women in the higher judiciary, urging the Supreme Court Collegium to take immediate steps to ensure gender diversity in upcoming judicial appointments.
In a resolution passed on August 30, the SCBA highlighted the troubling absence of women judges in several High Courts across the country. States such as Uttarakhand, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Manipur currently have no female judges on their benches, underscoring what the association described as a “systemic imbalance” in judicial representation.
According to the SCBA, out of nearly 1,100 sanctioned posts for High Court judges nationwide, approximately 670 are occupied by men, while only 103 are held by women. The remaining positions are vacant. This data, the association noted, reflects a deeply entrenched gender gap that demands urgent institutional correction.
The SCBA also expressed disappointment over the recent round of judicial appointments, pointing out that no woman judge has been elevated to the Supreme Court since 2021. At present, Justice B.V. Nagarathna remains the sole woman judge on the bench of the apex court—a situation the association described as “regressive and unacceptable in a modern democracy.”
The president of SCBA Mr. Vikas Singh earlier had on two instances addressed to CJI urging to look into this gender disparity,
Calling for a more inclusive and representative judiciary, the SCBA urged the Collegium to prioritize gender diversity in its selection process. “Justice must not only be done but must also reflect the society it serves,” the resolution stated, emphasizing that a judiciary lacking in gender balance risks undermining public confidence and the principle of equal representation.
The resolution marks a significant moment in the ongoing discourse around judicial reform and inclusivity, as legal bodies and civil society continue to push for greater accountability and transparency in the appointment process.
The association further expressed deep disappointment over the recent round of judicial appointments, noting that no woman was considered for elevation. It highlighted that since 2021 no female judge has been appointed to the Supreme Court. Currently, Justice B.V. Nagarathna remains the sole woman serving on the bench of the apex court.
The resolution underlined that greater gender balance on the bench is essential not only for fair and equal representation but also for strengthening public confidence in the judiciary, enriching judicial perspective and reflecting the diversity of society in the society of Justice.
In light of recent developments, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has resolved to formally urge the Chief Justice of India and the Collegium to prioritize the appointment and elevation of more women judges in the forthcoming rounds of judicial selections for both the Supreme Court and the High Courts.
This appeal gains significance amid ongoing controversy surrounding the elevation of Justice Vipul Pancholi to the Supreme Court, with concerns being raised over his selection ahead of at least three senior women judges.
