6 February 2026·PIB

Since 2014, 170 Women Judges have been appointed in the High Courts, including 96 in the last five years and 06 in the Supreme Court

In this note

1. At a Glance

Ministry of Law & Justice data (Feb 2026): since 2014, 170 women judges appointed in High Courts and 6 in the Supreme Court; 96 of the HC appointments fell in the last five years [1].
Appointments are constitutional (Arts. 124, 217, 224) with no reservation clause — diversity is achieved only via executive nudging of the Collegium [1][2].
Topic intersects GS-II (judiciary, women) and GS-I (gender) — examinable for both Prelims (articles/MoP) and Mains (representation debate).

PIB release (06 Feb 2026), Ministry of Law & Justice, disclosed cumulative women-judge appointment data: 170 HC + 6 SC since 2014 [1].

1989: Justice M. Fathima Beevi — first woman judge of the Supreme Court.
2021: Three women elevated to SC in a single collegium recommendation, including Justice B.V. Nagarathna (in line to be India's first woman CJI in 2027).
2014–2026: cumulative additions — 170 HC women judges, 96 in the last five years alone [1].
SC sanctioned strength raised from 31 to 34 (incl. CJI) w.e.f. 09.08.2019 [3].
HC sanctioned strength expanded from 906 (2014) → 1104 (2022) [3].

Implementing ministry: Ministry of Law & Justice — Department of Justice [1].
Constitutional basis: Art. 124 (SC appointments), Art. 217 (HC permanent judges), Art. 224 (HC additional/acting judges) [1].
No reservation for caste/class/gender in higher judiciary appointments [1].
Memorandum of Procedure (MoP): initiation by CJI (SC) and CJ of concerned HC (HC) [1].
SC sanctioned strength: 34 (33 + CJI) [3].
HC sanctioned strength: 1114; working 785; vacancies 329 (as of 21 Mar 2023) [3].
Women in SC since 2014: 06 [1].
Women in HCs since 2014: 170 (96 in last 5 years) [1].

Constitutional / Legal
Arts. 124/217/224 silent on social composition; Second Judges Case (1993) & Third Judges Case (1998) vest primacy in Collegium — limits Govt's ability to mandate gender diversity [1].
NJAC Act, 2014 / 99th CAA struck down in 2015 (Fourth Judges Case) — restored Collegium, so diversity push remains advisory [2].
Social / Gender
6 women in SC since 2014 against ~50 total appointments — under-representation persists.
Govt requests CJs to consider SC/ST/OBC/Minorities/Women while sending proposals [1].
Administrative
Initiation lies with judiciary; executive only vets, hence "request" mechanism, not mandate [1].
Vacancy of ~330 in HCs is a structural ceiling on diversification [3].
Historical
Trajectory: Fathima Beevi (1989) → Sujata Manohar → Ruma Pal → Gyan Sudha Misra → R. Banumathi → Indu Malhotra → Indira Banerjee → Hima Kohli → B.V. Nagarathna → Bela Trivedi → Bela Trivedi — pace of induction has accelerated post-2014 [1].

06 Feb 2026: PIB statement quantifies women-judge appointments — 170 HC + 6 SC since 2014 [1].
2025: Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) under women-safety vertical — 725 FTSCs functional (incl. 392 exclusive POCSO courts) across 29 States/UTs; 3,34,213 cases disposed since inception (as of 30.06.2025) [4].
FTSC Scheme extended up to 31 March 2026 for 790 courts [4].

Appointment of SC/HC judges governed by Arts. 124, 217, 224 [1].
No reservation in higher judiciary appointments [1].
MoP vests initiation of SC proposals with CJI, HC proposals with CJ of that HC [1].
Since 2014: 170 women judges in HCs, 96 in last five years, 6 in SC [1].
SC sanctioned strength: 34 (incl. CJI), raised w.e.f. 09 Aug 2019 [3].
HC sanctioned strength: 906 (2014) → 1104 (2022) → 1114 (2023) [3].
First woman SC judge: Justice M. Fathima Beevi (1989) — static GK.
Fast Track Special Courts: 725 functional (incl. 392 exclusive POCSO) as of 30 Jun 2025 [4].
FTSC Scheme extended till 31 March 2026 for 790 courts [4].
Ministry responsible: Law & Justice (Dept. of Justice) [1].

GS-II: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary; Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections (women).
GS-I: Role of women and women's organisation.
Probable stems:
"Despite executive nudges, gender representation in the higher judiciary remains tokenistic. Examine in light of the Collegium system." (GS-II)
"Discuss whether the Memorandum of Procedure should be amended to mandate social diversity in judicial appointments." (GS-II)
"Evaluate the role of Fast Track Special Courts in delivering gender justice." (GS-II)

Collegium System & NJAC verdict (2015) — institutional backdrop to appointments.
Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) — operational rulebook still under tussle.
All India Judicial Service (Art. 312) — proposed lever for diversity in subordinate judiciary.
Fast Track Special Courts / POCSO courts — adjacent women-safety vertical [4].
Gram Nyayalayas & e-Courts Mission Mode — access-to-justice ecosystem.
Women's Reservation Act, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) — comparator on legislative quota.
Articles 124A–124C (struck-down NJAC scheme) — constitutional history.
Justice B.V. Nagarathna's expected elevation as CJI (2027) — current-affairs hook.

Confusing Art. 224 (additional/acting HC judges) with Art. 224A (ad-hoc retired judges) — both distinct.
Assuming a reservation exists for women in higher judiciary — it does not [1].
Mixing sanctioned (1114) vs working (785) vs vacant (329) HC strength [3].
Believing SC initiation rests with the President/Law Minister — it rests with the CJI per MoP [1].
Treating 170 as total women judges currently serving — it is cumulative appointments since 2014 [1].