S. Basavaraj, Senior Advocate, Bengaluru.
Recently the Chief Justice of India asked a pertinent question “Why there are less women in Higher Judiciary?”
I wrote this on 8 March 2016. Unfortunately there is little improvement since then.
Another Women’s’ Day is here.
From the legal perspective, it is highly disappointing.
The woman lawyers are completely ignored in the matter of elevation as High Court judges or other Constitutional offices. We’ve never heard of a single woman Advocate General in the country (correct me if I am wrong).
Even the on-going selection of High Court Judges in the Karnataka High Court does not have a single women candidate.
Many woman lawyers, whose consent was obtained, felt it embarrassing to meet the collegium judges to pursue their appointment.
A woman lawyer, whose name was recommended, told me how embarrassing it was to meet the Judges in their chambers or at home to know about the status or to pursue the elevation. She was asked to meet the collegium judges of the Supreme Court and she simply did not want to do this.
Flip side of the coin is, even the Hon’ble Judges are stuck in a catch 22 situation. If a particular judge takes extra-interest to suggest, recommend or push through the name of a woman lawyer, it would be looked with suspicion.
The resultant position is, the women lawyers are deprived of the high constitutional positions.
Moreover, out of more than 100 Senior Advocates in the Karnataka High Court, there few woman Senior Advocates.
The procedure provides for inviting the lawyers to be designated as the senior advocates. It is surprising to know that not a single woman lawyer has ever been invited by the High Court to be designated in last several years.
Many women lawyers say they have to run to the chambers of judges to get recognised. No self-respecting women would do it.
However, unfortunately this is not done in any High Courts.
The woman judges should take up their cause. They should recognise the young talented woman lawyers and promote them for high Constitutional offices.
S. Basavaraj, Senior Advocate, Bengaluru
Daksha Legal 