New Delhi: Chief Justice N V Ramana remarked that women of the world must unite because they have nothing to lose but their chains. He observed that women must 'shout with anger and demand 50% reservation', not as charity but as a matter of right. He was addressing the felicitation function organized by the women advocates honouring Chief Justice and Supreme Court judges on Sunday. He expressed that it is high time we must realize and reach this goal in the Supreme Courts and other subordinate courts.
Citing statistics on the representation of women, the Chief Justice said that women constitute less than 30% strength of the lower judiciary, while at the High Court, they are at a meager 11%. At the Supreme Court, they now have four out of 33 judges, CJI remarked. He further said that amongst 1.7 million lawyers, only 15% are women, while they constitute only 2% of the elected representatives at the State Bar Councils.
"This needs urgent correction. People will cite difficulties that women have to face to be fully represented. That is not correct. I agree there is the client's preference, uncomfortable environment, and lack of infrastructure are the major issues unfriendly to women in the legal profession. Among the 60,000 Courts, 22% do not even have toilets due to which even lady officers suffer," he pointed out.
On the demands raised by the women advocates earlier in the session, he mentioned that he is in support of resuming physical hearing, noting that the Senior Counsels have reservations regarding this. Moreover, he expressed his reluctance to take any further risks amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. He was optimistic that post-Dushehra holidays, the courts can be fully reopened for physical hearings.
He also strongly recommended and supported the demand for a certain percentage of reservations for women at law schools.
He wished a very happy Daughter's Day to all the women advocates in attendance. He referred to the women advocates as role models of the younger generation, assuring his support to all their causes.
