I was stalked when I started practising law: Orissa High Court Justice Savitri Ratho

Orissa High Court Justice Savitri Ratho on Sunday recalled that she was stalked during her early years as a lawyer.

She said the incident occurred when she had just begun practicing law and that the situation was eventually handled with the help of her male colleagues at the Bar.

Recounting her experience from the early days of her legal career, Justice Ratho said she initially noticed a man repeatedly appearing wherever she was in court.

She said the situation later escalated when the man even appeared at her chamber.

“I was stalked when I started practising. I felt he was always there in the court. My male colleagues helped me. Once he came to the chamber also but I pretended I did not see him. Of course, later he was beaten up,” Justice Ratho said.

Justice Ratho was speaking at the first National Conference of Indian Women in Law themed “Half the Nation – Half the Bench”, organised in the Supreme Court by Senior Advocates Shobha Gupta and Mahalakshmi Pavani on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

During the discussion, she also reflected on her own appointment to the Bench and the obstacles that sometimes arise in the process.

Justice Ratho said her name had been recommended by the Colelgium for judgeship twice but the appointments did not materialise at the time.

“Twice my name was recommended but someone who was in charge of the helm of affairs did not allow it. They had some problem with my family,” she said.

She also addressed the common perception that women always support other women in the profession, saying her own experience was different.

According to her, male colleagues played an important role in supporting her early in her career.

“People say women always help women. That is not correct. I was helped by men,” she said.

Justice Ratho added that some lawyers hesitate to accept judgeship because of the financial trade-offs involved, but said that was not a concern for her personally.

“Some hesitate because they give up flourishing careers. But I am single. I don’t have much expenses. Even now, I am not able to spend my salary,” she remarked lightheartedly.

The panel discussion formed part of a broader conversation on gender gaps in judicial appointments and ways to build a more inclusive legal ecosystem.

The session, titled “Bridge the Gap – Balance the Bench,” featured Supreme Court judges Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Vijay Bishnoi, former Chief Justice of India TS Thakur, Telangana High Court judge Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya and Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court Justice Revati Mohite Dere.

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