Indian Judge Champions Sisterhood in Legal Profession

A Supreme Court judge is calling on women in law to lift each other up, not just climb the ladder alone.

Justice BV Nagarathna delivered a powerful message Thursday at the launch of senior advocate Indira Jaising's memoir in New Delhi. She said sisterhood in the legal profession isn't just nice to have. It's essential for making sure the door stays open for others.

"Sisterhood in the profession is very important as a conscious intellectual and professional commitment to ensuring that access does not end with individual achievement," Justice Nagarathna told the audience. Her words highlighted how women lawyers face unique challenges that men in the profession rarely encounter.

Justice Nagarathna explained that men in law have long benefited from informal networks and recommendations. Women entered the field without those built-in advantages, making solidarity between female lawyers a necessity, not just a sentiment.

She traced how each generation of women lawyers has had to prove themselves all over again. But there's good news: the burden gets lighter with time as each generation builds on the courage of those who came before.

The event celebrated Jaising's book "The Constitution Is My Home: Conversations on a Life in Law," which chronicles her remarkable six-decade career. Jaising has been a trailblazer, fighting for constitutional rights and gender justice throughout her career.

The Ripple Effect

Justice Nagarathna's call for sisterhood comes at a crucial time for women in India's judiciary. The legal profession is slowly becoming more inclusive, with more women reaching senior positions and judgeship roles.

Her message resonates beyond law firms and courtrooms. When successful women actively support others, they create pathways that benefit entire communities. Female lawyers who mentor younger colleagues help ensure diverse voices shape the legal system.

Chief Justice Surya Kant, unable to attend, sent remarks comparing the Constitution to a home. "A home survives not because its walls remain untouched, it survives because each generation cares enough to preserve what is essential while adapting what is necessary," his message read.

Jaising emphasized that the Constitution has given her a sense of belonging throughout her career. She noted positive signs recently, including the Supreme Court revisiting decisions and showing greater willingness to protect civil liberties.

The veteran advocate called for elevating the three women currently serving as Chief Justices of High Courts to the Supreme Court as it expands. That move would increase female representation at India's highest judicial level.

Justice Nagarathna's words offer a roadmap for progress: women succeeding together, not just individually.