Jahanvi Agarwal
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud recently made a compelling appeal to Senior Advocates, urging them to rethink their approach to recruiting junior lawyers. He suggested a more meritocratic process, instead of relying on personal networks or connections,—inviting open applications followed by interviews. This, he emphasized, would create a level playing field, particularly for women at the Bar. “The issue with our profession is the lack of equal opportunity,” the CJI noted, arguing that a fair recruitment process would reveal women’s potential in the legal field.
Speaking at Justice Hima Kohli’s farewell ceremony, CJI Chandrachud praised her for her judicial acumen and sensitivity, particularly in addressing challenges faced by women in the legal profession. He pointed out that when given equal opportunities, women have consistently excelled, citing the Delhi district judiciary as an example, where a significant number of new recruits are women. “Out of 108 recruits, 78 are women,” he mentioned, attributing their success to the existence of a level playing field at the entry level.
Highlighting Justice Kohli’s career, CJI Chandrachud emphasized that women need not forsake their femininity to succeed in the legal profession- “Women bring a unique degree of compassion to this field, and success does not require adopting a male perspective but rather embracing the best qualities of a woman.”
Supreme Court Bar Association President Kapil Sibal also spoke at the event, calling on the Collegium to increase the appointment of women judges to both the High Courts and the Supreme Court. He particularly advocated for women lawyers with expertise in commercial law, highlighting the need for greater representation of women in the higher judiciary.