Stating that the appointment of three women judges in the Supreme Court last month was a 'historic' decision towards women empowerment, President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said that to achieve the inclusive ideals of the Indian Constitution, the role of women in the judiciary needs to be increased.
"If we have to achieve the inclusive ideals of our Constitution, then the role of women in the judiciary also has to be increased," said President Ram Nath Kovind at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Uttar Pradesh National Law University and new building complex of Allahabad High Court at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh today.
He noted that the presence of four women judges out of the total 33 judges appointed in the Supreme Court is the highest ever in the history of the judiciary.
Referring to the Allahabad High Court's historic decision to enrol India's first woman lawyer, Cornelia Sorabji in 1921, the President termed that decision a forward-looking decision in the direction of women empowerment.
He said that last month, a new history was created of the women's participation in the judiciary with the appointment of nine judges, including three women judges, in the Supreme Court. He said that these appointments have paved the way for a woman Chief Justice of India in future.
President Kovind emphasized that the establishment of a truly just society would be possible only when the participation of women increases in all areas including the judiciary.
He noted that at present the total strength of women judges in the Supreme Court and High Courts together is less than 12 per cent. He said that if we have to achieve the inclusive ideals of our Constitution, then the role of women in the judiciary also has to be increased.
The President said that he had seen closely, the struggle of the poor for getting justice.
"Everyone has expectations from the judiciary, yet, generally people hesitate in taking the help of the courts. This situation needs to be changed in order to further increase the confidence of the people in the judiciary," said President Kovind.
