"No woman is Chief Justice of any High Court”: Union Law Minister on Inclusion of women in judiciary at Parliament's Winter Session
The Parliament in its Winter Session was informed by the Ministry of Law and Justice (Department of Justice) that, “at present, no woman is a Chief Justice of any High Court.”
“Initiation of the proposal for the appointment of Chief Justice of a High Court is done by the Chief Justice of India. Appointment of Chief Justice of High Courts is made under Article 217 of the Constitution of India, which do not provide for reservation for any caste or class of persons,” informed the Law Minster Kiren Rijiju.
The Ministry was responding to an Unstarred question put forth by Member of Parliament and Biju Janta Dal leader Dr. Amar Patnaik on the following -
(a) Whether Government is aware that out of 25 Chief Justices of High Courts, only one is a woman;
(b) If so, the reasons therefor;
(c) Whether Government is aware that according to an ongoing survey by the Chief Justice of India, 16 per cent of the courts do not have separate washrooms for men and women;
(d) If so, the details thereof;
(e) Whether Government has any plan of action to make Courts more accessible for women and transgender people; and
(f) If so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
He further stated that, the Registry of Supreme Court of India compiled the data on the status of judicial infrastructure which revealed that 26% court complexes do not have separate ladies toilet. The primary responsibility of development of infrastructure facilities for judiciary rests with the State Governments.
“To augment the resources of the State Governments, the Union Government has been implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for development of infrastructure facilities in District and Subordinate Courts by providing financial assistance to State Governments / UTs in the prescribed fund sharing pattern.”
He stated that, the Scheme was being implemented since 1993-94 and till date the Central Government has sanctioned Rs. 8709.77 crore under the Scheme to States/UTs. The scheme has been extended from time to time. Under this scheme funds are released by the Central Government for construction of court buildings and residential accommodations for Judicial Officers of District and Subordinate Judiciary.
“The Government has extended the above scheme for a further period of five years from 01.04.2021 to 31.03.2026, with a total budgetary outlay of Rs.9000 crores, including Central share of Rs.5307 crores,” the ministry added.
The Minister at last informed that the scheme components have been expanded, to also cover the construction of toilets, digital computer rooms and Lawyers’ Hall in the district and subordinate courts and Rs. 47.00 crore have been approved for the construction of Toilet complexes in the District and Subordinate Courts.