Women still facing challenges in legal field 75 yrs after Independence: CJI

NEW DELHI: The Chief Justice of India, N.V. Ramana, said on Saturday that the legal profession is yet to welcome women into its fold, and emphasised that very few women find representation at the top and even if they do, they still continue to face an uphill task.

The CJI was speaking at a felicitation function organised here by the Bar Council of India. It was attended by Law Minister Kiran Rijiju and several top court judges, days after the appointment of three women judges, including a future woman Chief Justice, and six other judges at one go in the top court.

"After 75 years of Independence, one would expect at least 50 per cent representation of women at all levels, but I must admit, with great difficulty, that we have now achieved a mere 11 per cent representation of women on the bench of the Supreme Court," Ramana said. The CJI also said that majority of the women advocates struggle within the profession. "Very few women find representation at the top. Even when they do, they continue to face significant challenges... the reality remains that the legal profession still has to welcome women into its fold," he said. He also highlighted the lack of women's toilets at various court complexes.

"I had seen during my high court days that women did not have toilets. And it is very difficult for women lawyers to come to the court and wait for long hours in the corridors," Ramana said.

On judicial infrastructure, the CJI said that he has made a voluminous report collecting information from each nook and corner of the country, which he will present to the Law Minister.

The report includes requirements for court buildings, lawyers' chambers, facilities required for the bar, women lawyers etc.

"A comprehensive proposal for the creation of a National Judicial Infrastructure Corporation is under preparation. We have collected the status report from across the country. A proposal in this regard will reach the Law Minister very soon. I expect full cooperation from the government," he said. (IANS)

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