Parliament Question: Women Judges in Judiciary

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4633 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 20TH MARCH, 2026 WOMEN JUDGES IN JUDICIARY 4633. KM. SUDHA R: Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state: (a) the number of sitting women judges across the nation, High Court-wise; (b) the number of women judges in subordinate courts, with a break up of district and sessions judges, sub-judges and magistrates, State-wise; (c) whether the Union Government proposes to introduce one-third women’s reservation at all the levels of the judiciary including the Supreme Court, if so, the timeline by which it is likely to be implemented; and (d) the number of women judges recommended for appointment in various High Courts and the dates from which they are pending, High Court-wise? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL) (a) to (d): The information is at Annexure. Appointment of Judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts is made under Articles 124, 217 and 224 of the Constitution of India, which do not provide for reservation for any caste or class of persons. As per the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP), the responsibility for initiation of proposals for appointment of Judges in the Supreme Court vests with the Chief Justice of India, while the responsibility for initiation of proposals for appointment of Judges in the [1]High Courts vests with the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court. However, the Government is committed to enhancing social diversity in judiciary and has been requesting the Chief Justices of 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 to ensure social diversity in the appointment of Judges in High Courts. Only those persons who are recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium, are appointed as Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts. Judicial appointments are made as per the provisions of the Constitution. Nevertheless, the Government remains committed to promoting social diversity, including gender representation, and continues to encourage consideration of suitable women candidates in the appointment process Since 2014 till 17.03.2026, 179 women Judges have been appointed in the High Courts. As on 17.03.2026, there is 01 woman Judge working in the Supreme Court and 113 women Judges in High Courts. Appointments in District and Subordinate Courts fall under the jurisdiction of State Governments and High Courts, as per Articles 233 and 234 of the Constitution of India. The recruitment process is governed by the rules framed by State Governments in consultation with High Courts. As far as existing provisions regarding appointment of judicial officers in District and Subordinate Courts is concerned, under Article 235 of the Constitution of India, the administrative control over the members of district and subordinate judiciary in the States vests with the concerned High Court. In exercise of powers conferred under proviso to Article 309 read with Articles 233 and 234 of the Constitution, the respective State Governments, in consultation with the High Court, frame the Rules and Regulations regarding the issue of appointment, promotion, reservations and retirement of Judicial Officers in the State Judicial Service. **** [2]ANNEXURE Details of Women Judges in the High Courts (As on 17.03.2026) Sanctioned Working No. of Women Sl. No. High Court Strength Strength Judges 1 Allahabad 160 109 7 2 Andhra Pradesh 37 34 6 3 Bombay 94 79 12 4 Calcutta 72 42 8 5 Chhattisgarh 22 15 1 6 Delhi 60 44 10 7 Gauhati 30 24 4 8 Gujarat 52 35 7 Himachal 17 12 1 9 Pradesh J & K and 25 14 2 10 Ladakh 11 Jharkhand 25 13 1 12 Karnataka 62 45 8 13 Kerala 47 39 3 14 Madhya Pradesh 53 41 1 15 Madras 75 52 10 16 Manipur 5 3 0 17 Meghalaya 4 4 1 18 Orissa 33 19 1 19 Patna 53 37 2 Punjab & 85 58 16 20 Haryana 21 Rajasthan 50 39 4 22 Sikkim 3 3 1 23 Telangana 42 28 7 24 Tripura 5 4 0 25 Uttarakhand 11 10 0 Total 1122 803 113 [3]