Lok Sabha Question No. 4633 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-20
Subject: Women Judges in Judiciary
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Km. Sudha R

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4633 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 20 TH  MARCH, 2026

## WOMEN JUDGES IN JUDICIARY

## 4633.  KM. SUDHA R:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of sitting women judges across the nation, High Court-wise;
- (b) the number of women judges in subordinate courts, with a break up of district and sessions judges, sub-judges and magistrates, State-wise;
- (c) whether the Union Government  proposes to introduce one-third  women's reservation at all the levels of the judiciary including the Supreme Court, if so, the timeline by which it is likely to be implemented; and
- (d) the  number  of  women  judges  recommended  for  appointment  in  various  High Courts and the dates from which they are pending, High Court-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a) to (d): The information is at Annexure

.

Appointment of Judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts is made under Articles 124, 217 and 224 of the Constitution of India, which do not provide for reservation for any caste or class of persons.

As  per  the  Memorandum  of  Procedure  (MoP),  the  responsibility  for  initiation  of proposals  for  appointment  of  Judges  in  the  Supreme  Court  vests  with  the  Chief  Justice  of India,  while  the  responsibility  for  initiation  of  proposals  for  appointment  of  Judges  in  the

High  Courts  vests  with  the  Chief  Justice  of  the  concerned  High  Court.  However,  the Government is committed to enhancing social diversity in judiciary and has been requesting the  Chief  Justices  of  High  Courts  that  while  sending  proposals  for  appointment  of  Judges, due consideration be given to suitable candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes,  Other  Backward  Classes,  Minorities  and  Women  to  ensure  social  diversity  in  the appointment  of  Judges  in  High  Courts.  Only  those  persons  who  are  recommended  by  the Supreme Court Collegium, are appointed as Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.

Judicial appointments are made as per the provisions of the Constitution. Nevertheless,  the  Government  remains  committed  to  promoting  social  diversity,  including gender representation, and continues to encourage consideration of suitable  women candidates in the appointment process

Since  2014  till  17.03.2026,  179  women  Judges  have  been  appointed  in  the  High Courts. As on 17.03.2026, there is 01 woman Judge working in the Supreme Court and 113 women Judges in High Courts.

Appointments in District and Subordinate Courts fall under the jurisdiction of State Governments and High Courts, as per Articles 233 and 234 of the Constitution of India. The recruitment process is governed by the rules framed by State Governments in consultation with High Courts.

As far as existing provisions regarding appointment of judicial officers in District and Subordinate  Courts  is  concerned,  under  Article  235  of  the  Constitution  of  India,  the administrative  control  over  the  members  of  district  and  subordinate  judiciary  in  the  States vests with the concerned High Court. In exercise of powers conferred under proviso to Article 309 read with Articles 233 and 234 of the Constitution, the respective State Governments, in consultation  with  the  High  Court,  frame  the  Rules  and  Regulations  regarding  the  issue  of appointment, promotion, reservations and retirement of Judicial Officers in the State Judicial Service.

****

## Details of Women Judges in the High Courts (As on 17.03.2026)

| Sl. No.   | High Court       |   Sanctioned Strength |   Working Strength |   No. of Women Judges |
|-----------|------------------|-----------------------|--------------------|-----------------------|
| 1         | Allahabad        |                   160 |                109 |                     7 |
| 2         | Andhra Pradesh   |                    37 |                 34 |                     6 |
| 3         | Bombay           |                    94 |                 79 |                    12 |
| 4         | Calcutta         |                    72 |                 42 |                     8 |
| 5         | Chhattisgarh     |                    22 |                 15 |                     1 |
| 6         | Delhi            |                    60 |                 44 |                    10 |
| 7         | Gauhati          |                    30 |                 24 |                     4 |
| 8         | Gujarat          |                    52 |                 35 |                     7 |
| 9         | Himachal Pradesh |                    17 |                 12 |                     1 |
| 10        | J &Kand Ladakh   |                    25 |                 14 |                     2 |
| 11        | Jharkhand        |                    25 |                 13 |                     1 |
| 12        | Karnataka        |                    62 |                 45 |                     8 |
| 13        | Kerala           |                    47 |                 39 |                     3 |
| 14        | Madhya Pradesh   |                    53 |                 41 |                     1 |
| 15        | Madras           |                    75 |                 52 |                    10 |
| 16        | Manipur          |                     5 |                  3 |                     0 |
| 17        | Meghalaya        |                     4 |                  4 |                     1 |
| 18        | Orissa           |                    33 |                 19 |                     1 |
| 19        | Patna            |                    53 |                 37 |                     2 |
| 20        | Punjab& Haryana  |                    85 |                 58 |                    16 |
| 21        | Rajasthan        |                    50 |                 39 |                     4 |
| 22        | Sikkim           |                     3 |                  3 |                     1 |
| 23        | Telangana        |                    42 |                 28 |                     7 |
| 24        | Tripura          |                     5 |                  4 |                     0 |
| 25        | Uttarakhand      |                    11 |                 10 |                     0 |
|           | Total            |                  1122 |                803 |                   113 |