Women in leadership give depth to justice: Delhi High Court Justice Mini Pushkarna

When leadership is informed by diverse opinion, justice acquires depth, Delhi High Court Justice Mini Pushkarna said at a symposium organised by the Indian Council of Arbitration on the theme ‘Where women lead, justice follows’..Justice Pushkarna said women bring diverse perspectives and the lived experience of their gender, making decisions more inclusive and fostering collaborative environments and stronger team cohesion. “When we say women lead, justice follows, it is because experience has shown us that their leadership has altered institutions in lasting and enduring ways,” she remarked..She stressed that justice cannot be confined to courtrooms or to legal remedies at the end of litigation. Instead, she described justice as encompassing “fairness in opportunity, equality in treatment and dignity in a lived experience”. .She emphasised that justice must operate in homes, workplaces, private companies, boardrooms, government institutions and all decision‑making bodies..“Can justice really expand in any meaningful sense if women are underrepresented in leadership roles and excluded from decision-making?” the judge questioned..While women’s access to education and economic participation has expanded, she cautioned that increased participation alone is not representation. “For true representation, more women need to occupy leadership positions in these spaces so that decisions that are taken are more just,” she opined..She noted that policies, administrative orders, judicial pronouncements and corporate resolutions were all decisions taken by those in authority and that in these rooms, justice is either advanced or diminished. “If justice is to deepen, this gap definitely must close. When you empower a woman, you empower a society and build a nation. Where women lead, perspective widens. And where perspective widens, institutions evolve. And where institutions evolve, justice deepens. And when women sit at the table where decisions are taken, constitutional promises move closer to a lived reality,” the judge underscored..Justice Pushkarna also referred to women’s role in shaping constitutional jurisprudence, citing cases such as Shah Bano, the challenge to instant triple talaq, the ruling on medical termination of pregnancy expanding access to unmarried women and Vishaka’s case on sexual harassment at the workplace..[Read live coverage].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.