Women don't need reservation in judiciary, Justice CS Sudha rose solely on merit: KHCAA President

A Full Court Reference held at the Kerala High Court in honour of Justice Chandrasekharan Sudha, whose transfer to the Delhi High Court was recently notified, saw the Kerala High Court Advocates Association (KHCAA) President Yeshwanth Shenoy question demands made by some for women's reservation in the judiciary..Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar, Advocate General Gopalakrishnan Kurup, and KHCAA President Yeshwanth Shenoy were among those who addressed the gathering at the event held in the Chief Justice's Court Hall on Wednesday..KHCAA President Shenoy reflected on Justice CS Sudha's career, describing her judicial journey as a model of dedication, intellectual rigour, and public service.He added that her judgments consistently upheld the principles of justice while remaining sensitive to vulnerable groups, including women, minors, and marginalised communities.Shenoy emphasised that Justice Sudha's achievements were a result of merit and sheer hard work. He opined that it was important to recognise women's contributions to the judiciary and that demands for reserving posts in the judiciary for women were demeaning. "Every elevation transfer and retirement of a woman judge always triggers a debate on women in the judiciary and the need for women’s reservation. Personally, I find it demeaning as it undermines the ability of those women who have strived hard to achieve success. Justice Sudha did not need any reservation and she has reached this place solely through her hard work and determination," he said..In his address, Advocate General Kurup traced Justice Sudha's illustrious career, highlighted Justice Sudha's judicial philosophy that balanced precise legal reasoning with empathy, and praised her for maintaining a sensitive approach in her judgements.Chief Justice Jamdar also acknowledged Justice Sudha's substantial contributions to the administration of justice while wishing her success in the new chapter.Justice Sudha, in her address, expressed gratitude to everyone while concluding her speech by quoting Robert Frost."The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.".Justice Sudha, born on October 9, 1964, began her judicial journey in 1995 after securing the first rank in the Kerala Judicial Service examination.She had obtained her BA in Economics from Mar Ivanios College before earning her LLB from Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram.The Judge enrolled as an advocate in 1989 and started her legal practice at the Thiruvananthapuram District Court.She was sworn in as an Additional Judge of the Kerala High Court on October 20, 2021, and became a Permanent Judge on September 5, 2023.Over her three-decade-long career, Justice Sudha served in various judicial and administrative capacities, including Registrar of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal, Assistant Controller of Investigation with the Ministry of Communication and IT, and Registrar of both the Competition Appellate Tribunal and the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal in New Delhi..[Read live coverage].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.