Study highlights gender disparity in Karnataka High Court with only 14%-17% women judges

A recent study by the Centre for Law and Policy Research has revealed that only 14%-17% of judges in the Karnataka High Court are women, a figure mirrored in the Andhra Pradesh, Bombay, and Calcutta High Courts. The study, presented at an event in Bengaluru on International Women’s Day (March 8, 2025), underscores the persistent gender imbalance in the Indian judiciary.

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At the Supreme Court level, the representation of women judges remains significantly low. Currently, only 6.25% of Supreme Court judges (two out of 32) are women, while historically, the figure has stood at a mere 3.95%. The study also highlighted disparities in gender composition across various high courts. Telangana leads with 33% female judges, followed by Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana, Delhi, Madras, and Gauhati. In contrast, the worst-performing states include Allahabad, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar, with Meghalaya, Tripura, and Uttarakhand recording zero women judges in their high courts.

Further findings indicate that only one woman, Justice Indu Malhotra, has been directly elevated from the Bar to the Supreme Court, compared to nine male judges. Since 2021, 28 male judges have been appointed to the Supreme Court, while no women have been inducted. To date, only four women have been part of the collegium, with just two involved in appointments.