Senior advocate Indu Malhotra is set to make history as the first woman lawyer to be directly appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court.
Known to be hard working and diligent, Ms. Malhotra will be the seventh woman judge in the Supreme Court, since it was established 67 years ago, if her appointment goes through.
A second generation lawyer, Ms. Malhotra was born in 1956 in Bengaluru to noted advocate Om Prakash Malhotra. She joined the legal profession in 1983 and later secured first position in the Advocate-on-Record exam for the Supreme Court, a tough nut to crack for most lawyers.
In 2007, she became the second woman to be designated a senior advocate by the Supreme Court only after the legendary Justice Leila Seth, who was given the honour in 1977.
She is on the board of trustees in SaveLIFE Foundation and represented the NGO in a case which resulted in the Supreme Court passing a slew of laws to protect good Samaritans, who save lives in road accidents.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising told The Hindu that, “It’s a welcome move to recruit a woman directly from the Bar. There has to be more women judges at the Supreme Court.”
More opportunities
Senior advocate Meenakshi Arora said the development was historic besides being “excellent choice.” She said, “Women have finally broken a huge glass ceiling to be appointed directly as a judge of the Supreme Court. This will open up a lot of opportunities for other women in the legal field.”
Another Supreme Court advocate Vrinda Grover said the addition of another woman judge at the top court was a welcome move. “At present there is only one, we need more,” Ms. Grover said.
Justice R. Banumathi is the lone woman judge in the Supreme Court which currently has a strength of 25 judges.
In 1989, Justice M. Fathima Beevi became the first woman judge in the Supreme Court. With only five women judges being appointed as Supreme Court judge till now, the legal fraternity feels more women should be given the opportunity.
