Question : Women Judges in High Courts

(a) the details of the number of high courts across the country,
State/UT-wise;

(b) the details of the sanctioned strength of women judges in these
high courts across the country;

(c) the details of the number of women judges working in these
courts, at present, across the country, State/UT-wise including in West Bengal;

(d) whether the strength of women Judges is not upto the sanctioned
strength and if so, the reasons therefor; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to increase their
strength in these courts?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS
(SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (e): Statement showing details of High Courts alongwith sanctioned strength of Judges and number of women Judges working is annexed.

Appointment of Judges of the High Court is made under Article 217 and 224 of the Constitution of India. These Articles do not provide for reservation for any caste or class of person including women. However, the Government has been requesting the Chief Justices of the High Courts that while sending proposals for appointment of Judges, due consideration be given to suitable candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Minorities and Women.
******

Annexure
Statement referred to in reply to Parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 604 for 06.02.2019 regarding Women Judges in High Courts.
( As on 31.01.2019)
Sl. No. Name of the High Courts Sanctioned Strength of Judges
Number of Women Judges working

1 Allahabad 160 07
2 Andhra Pradesh 37 03
3 Bombay 94 09
4 Calcutta 72 07
5 Chhattisgarh 22 02
6 Delhi 60 07
7 Gauhati 24 01
8 Gujarat 52 03
9 Himachal Pradesh 13 00
10 Jammu & Kashmir 17 02
11 Jharkhand 25 01
12 Karnataka 62 03
13 Kerala 47 05
14 Madhya Pradesh 53 03
15 Madras 75 11
16 Manipur 05 00
17 Meghalaya 04 00
18 Orissa 27 01
19 Patna 53 02
20 Punjab& Haryana 85 07
21 Rajasthan 50 01
22 Sikkim 03 01
23 Telangana 24 00
24 Tripura 04 00
25 Uttarakhand 11 00