It was a historic moment of gender representation that the Supreme Court of India appointed three women judges, Justices Hima Kohli, BV Nagarathna and Bela M Trivedi on Tuesday.
The three women judges were among the nine new appointees to the Supreme Court. The three women judges took oath as judges of the Supreme Court. With this addition, Supreme Court now has four women judges, which is the highest ever. As per reports, the Supreme Court so far has had 11 women judges including the new appointments.
Among the women judges to take oath on Tuesday was Justice Hima Kohli, who is the former Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court. In 2006, Justice Hima Kohli had been appointed as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court and was later made a permanent Judge the preceding year.
Justice Hima Kohli will have a term till September 2, 2024 at the Supreme Court. Justice BV Nagarathna, who also took oath as the judge of Supreme Court on Tuesday, might become the first woman Chief Justice of India (CJI) in September 2027, if as per appointments based on the seniority. With her possible appointment as the CJI, India would have its first woman CJI. However, her tenure of office would be for 36 days only.
Justice Bela M Trivedi who was the third among the three women judges taking oath at SC on Tuesday is the first woman judge from the Gujarat High Court to be appointed as the Supreme Court judge. The appointment of three women judges at the same time in Supreme Court is major step towards gender representation at the apex court.