Prez for Woman Judge in Supreme Court, Govt Favors Proposal

 Government of India is mulling appointing a woman judge to the Supreme Court after President Pratibha Patil made a suggestion in this regard to the Law Ministry.



The President has asked the Ministry to explore the possibility of elevating at least one woman judge to the Supreme Court as there has not been an appointment of single woman judge after the retirement of Justice Ruma Pal in June 2006.



India Law Minister M Veerapa Moily said he also favored the appointment of woman judge to the Supreme Court.



Jharkhand High Court Chief Justice Gyan Sudha Mishra is the senior-most among the woman judges in High Courts who can be considered for elevation to the apex court.



Justice M Fatima Beevi was the first woman judge in the Supreme Court followed by Justices Sujata Manohar and Ruma Pal.



Against the sanctioned strength of 31, the Supreme Court has 27 judges.