Still difficult for competent women to make a mark as lawyers: Ginsburg Medal of Honour recipient, Justice Sujata Manohar

Former Supreme Court judge, Justice Sujata Manohar has been awarded Ruth Bader Ginsburg Medal of Honour. .The award was given by World Jurist Association and World Law Association through a virtual ceremony held last week. The medal has been instituted to celebrate late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the American Supreme Court judge who passed away in September 2020..Former Supreme Court judge, Justice Sujata Manohar awarded Ginsburg Medal of Honour.Bar & Bench spoke to Justice Manohar on the recognition and the difficulties faced by women lawyers on the Bench. .Excerpts from the conversation with Justice Manohar:.How do you see receiving the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Medal of Honour. Did her body of work Justice Ginsburg inspire you?.Not really. But I knew Justice Ginsburg and had met her. We believed in the same ideology so to speak. I met her at Washington and also in Lincoln's Inn. It was nice to meet her. I was a Honorary Bencher there and she was being appointed as a Honorary Bencher..How do you see the courts in India functioning these days and how different is it from the time you were at the bench ?.I think as far as my colleagues were concerned in Bombay and the Supreme Court, there were all supportive of equality and women's rights. So there was no problem in that sense but what happens is that perceptions differ and there is a difference between a man's point of view and woman's point of view on appreciation of facts depending upon how women and men are expected behave..Representation of women judges in the Supreme court continues to be at a low. How do we address it ?.It is a peculiar situation since women have had a difficult time at the bar. So, for really competent women to come and make a mark as a lawyer is still difficult.Hence, we have only a limited group of women to be considered for appointment as judges. Further, promotion to the Supreme Court will also depend on how a person performs as a High Court judge.So if you have a small number of women at High Courts, you cannot get more number of women judges in the Supreme Court. Perhaps if there are women lawyers in the Supreme Court who are performing well, they can be appointed directly, as we did with Justice Indu Malhotra.Thus, it is still difficult though things are become easier. If there are more competent women practicing at the bar, there will be more judges, but I do not see how there can be a shortcut..If there are more competent women practicing at the bar, there will be more judges, but I do not see how can there be a shortcut.Justice Sujata Manohar .A former CJI had said High Court judges have told him about women lawyers refusing judgeship citing domestic responsibilities. Any comment?.if you have a small number of women at High Courts, you cannot get more number of women judges in the Supreme Court.Justice Sujata Manohar .These responsibilities will affect a woman when she is pursuing her career as she needs to take time out for these responsibilities. But once she has established herself and her children have grown up, this should not come in her way. After a woman is appointed a judge these responsibilities do not come in the way as you have done your bit for the family. Where it actually causes an issue is when work transfers take place.