{"id":140670,"date":"2024-10-29T19:59:21","date_gmt":"2024-10-29T14:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=editorial-analysis&#038;p=140670"},"modified":"2024-10-30T20:03:14","modified_gmt":"2024-10-30T14:33:14","slug":"under-representation-of-women-in-the-judiciary","status":"publish","type":"editorial-analysis","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/under-representation-of-women-in-the-judiciary","title":{"rendered":"The under-representation of women in the judiciary"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The lack of women in the legal system has spurred initiatives to boost their representation as practising lawyers and judges at entry-level positions. While these measures are important, they may not be enough to ensure women&#8217;s promotion and retention within the judiciary.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Data on the under-representation of women in the judiciary<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Report on the State of the Judiciary (2023):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Supreme Court of India&#8217;s &#8220;State of the Judiciary&#8221; report reveals that <\/span><b>women constitute 36.3% of the district judiciary<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which is encouraging.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Disparity in Higher Judiciary:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> While over 50% of candidates recruited for the civil judge (junior) division in 14 states are women, their representation diminishes significantly at higher levels.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Low Representation in Supreme and High Courts:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> As of January 2024, women hold only 13.4% of High Court judgeships and 9.3% of Supreme Court judgeships.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Uneven Representation Across States:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Several High Courts, including those in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Tripura, and Uttarakhand, have either no women judges or just one.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bar Council Representation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Data from the Department of Legal Affairs (2022) indicates that women make up only 15.31% of enrolled advocates, and they remain underrepresented as senior advocates, advocates-on-record, and Bar Council representatives.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Consequences of Under-Representation<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Funneling Effect:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The under-representation of women in the Bar makes it challenging for them to<\/span><b> qualify as judges later on, as the requirement of 10 years of advocacy experience often goes unmet.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This results in a diminished pool of candidates eligible for elevation within the judiciary.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Challenges in Retention and Advancement:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> While women may have access to entry-level positions, their ability to retain these roles and progress to higher levels remains significantly hindered.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Issues faced by women on entering the system<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Unsupportive Environment<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: After entering the system, women encounter a discouraging environment that neglects their specific needs, hindering their career advancement.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Transfer policies:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Strict transfer policies, which lack flexibility and overlook women\u2019s roles as primary caregivers, reduce the number of qualified female judges eligible for promotion to the High Court and Supreme Court.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Inadequate Infrastructure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Daily interactions in courts are complicated by a lack of basic facilities, creating difficulties for women lawyers, judges, and staff.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Insufficient Sanitation Facilities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A 2019 survey by the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy revealed that nearly <\/span><b>100 district courts lack designated restrooms for women.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Limited Family-Friendly Amenities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Most courts lack supportive facilities, such as feeding rooms and cr\u00e8ches. While the Delhi High Court has introduced a cr\u00e8che for children under six, availability remains limited.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Familial Responsibilities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Women, often viewed as primary caretakers, may need to pause their legal practice after childbirth, making it challenging to return to work.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.8996%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Theory of Carole Pateman<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ever-widening public-private divide: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carole Pateman in her theory points out that even though women are increasingly entering the public sphere traditionally occupied by men, <\/span><b>the law is unable to cope with the former\u2019s pace.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Catering the needs of women: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The public-private divide, according to Carole, is the main cause of the public sphere&#8217;s inability to accommodate women&#8217;s specific needs (safety provision, infrastructural needs) as they go from the private to the public sphere.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In tier 3 cities even in 2024, we can&#8217;t expect the availability of basic needs of women.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-modules?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Modules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Way Forward<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Implementing a Female Gaze in Policy-Making:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This feminist approach recognizes and prioritises women&#8217;s specific needs, helping to correct the unintended discriminatory impacts of existing policies and infrastructure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Infrastructure Development and Support: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Judicial facilities must cater to women&#8217;s needs, ensuring access to dedicated washrooms and family-friendly amenities, such as feeding rooms and cr\u00e8ches.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Gender-Sensitive Recruitment and Training: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implementing gender-sensitive recruitment and transfer policies, along with training on gender bias, can enhance the working environment for women in the judiciary.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Creating Supportive Networks: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Programs that foster connections among women judges and lawyers will create a more supportive and inclusive atmosphere.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although the under-representation of women in the judiciary is part of a vicious cycle, a female-centric perspective is destined to bring about changes from the traditional system that is ongoing. When the environment becomes conducive for women to work, the issue our judiciary currently is facing regarding the retention of women too would be resolved.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100.043%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 130.811%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Must Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.5357%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UPSC Daily Editorials<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80.2753%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/daily-current-affairs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UPSC Daily Current Affairs<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.5357%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-textbooks?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Textbooks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80.2753%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-modules?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Modules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.5357%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-previous-year-papers?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Previous+Year+Papers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out Previous Years Papers From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80.2753%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-test-series-courses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UPSC Test Series 2024<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.5357%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/quiz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Current Affairs Quiz<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80.2753%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Main Answer Writing<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 130.811%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\" colspan=\"2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+CSE+Books\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC CSE Books From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The lack of women in the legal system has spurred initiatives to boost their representation as practising lawyers and judges at entry-level positions. While these measures are important, they may not be enough to ensure women&#8217;s promotion and retention within the judiciary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":140501,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"paper-wise":[2088],"subject":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis\/140670"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/editorial-analysis"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=140670"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis\/140670\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":140671,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis\/140670\/revisions\/140671"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/140501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=140670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=140670"},{"taxonomy":"paper-wise","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper-wise?post=140670"},{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=140670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}