Supreme Court judge Justice S Ravindra Bhat emphasized on Saturday the importance of an equitable division of domestic duties between men and women to address the lack of female representation in the judiciary.
During a conference on Women in Power & Decision Making organized by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), Justice Bhat pointed out that although the Madras High Court has the highest number of female judges in India, it still falls short of the desired numbers.
“Gender representation in the judiciary has historically been a concern. Tamil Nadu has the highest number of female judges, but it’s still not enough. The glass ceiling for women is very real,” he stated.
Justice Bhat highlighted that domestic responsibilities often prevent women from pursuing more responsible professional roles. “Domestic expectations disproportionately burden women. We must strive for a society that values and prioritizes a more equal division of such labor,” he said.
Addressing the audience, Justice Bhat acknowledged the irony of a man speaking at a session on women’s empowerment but stressed the need for genuine engagement with the issues. He noted that career challenges for women are diverse and must be addressed institutionally.
The judge also discussed the importance of mandatory representation. “India has attempted to ensure representation through legislation, but it often becomes tokenistic. Women are given positions of power without real decision-making authority, which harms rather than helps,” he explained.
Justice Bhat observed an increase in the number of women in litigation and stressed the need for a supportive work environment to prevent them from stepping away from their careers. “It begins with basic steps. Leaders and stakeholders must address the unique issues faced by women to retain their participation,” he suggested.
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