History has been scripted today in the apex court of the country, which has the potential to revolutionise the constitutional paradigm of the country, and ensure the security and regulation of the law. In total 9 judges, including three women judges, were sworn in as the judges of the supreme court of India. This is happening for the first time, as these many judges appointed in one go to the apex court. Amongst them justice BV Nagarathna has been poised to become India’s first woman Chief Justice Of India.
Who Is Justice BV Nagarathna?
Justice Nagarathna was currently the judge of Karnataka high court who was born on 30 October 1962. The 58-year-old began her career when she enrolled with the Karnataka Bar Council in 1987 and practised constitutional law, commercial law, commercial law and administrative law.
Her father, ES Venkataramaiah was the 19th CJI and held the post for almost six months in 1989. He is also the first CJI from Karnataka.In February 2008, she was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Karnataka High Court and became a permanent judge two years later in February 2010.
The top court has seen very few women judges since its inception and in the last over 71 years has appointed only eight women judges starting from M Fathima Beevi in 1989. Justice Indira Banerjee is the lone serving woman judge in the top court and now Justice Nagarathna has achieved the milestone to become India’s first woman Chief Justice at Supreme court for a tenure of one month in 2027.
Why Is Nagarathna So Significant Above Other Judges Of India ?
During her tenure at the Karnataka HC, she presided over some key cases on education policy. During the coronavirus pandemic, she was hailed for her decision on directing the state government to ensure a wider reach of online classes.
In 2019, she was part of the bench that declared that temples are not a ” commercial establishment”. In a judgment on a divorce case, Justice Nagarathna called out the “patriarchal system” for failing women. “People always say women empowerment, but the society does not know how to treat an empowered woman. Parents don’t teach their sons how to treat an empowered woman. That is a problem with men, I will say that,” Justice Nagarathna said in her order.
The strength of the Supreme Court judges has gone up to 33 now, including the CJI, after the swearing-in of the nine new judges.
