First time in independent India, Supreme Court has four sitting women judges

With the swearing in of nine new judges to the Supreme Court on Tuesday morning, the top court for the first time in its 70-year history has four sitting women judges

The four are Justices Indira Banerjee, Hima Kohli, BV Nagarathna and Bela Trivedi.

While three of the four were sworn in on Tuesday, Justice Banerjee has been a Supreme Court judge since August 2018.

Previously, the highest number of sitting women judges in the apex court was three when Justices R Banumathi, Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee served as judges simultaneously for about two years between August 2018 and July 2020.

Out of the four current women judges, Justice Nagarathna will go on to become the first woman Chief Justice of India when she assumes the post in 2027.

Justice Banerjee was elevated as Supreme Court Judge on August 7, 2018 and will retire next year on September 23, 2022.

Read more about the three new women judges elevated to the Supreme Court here.

Read a live account from the oath taking ceremony of the judges here.