Friday 25 July 2014

Lady Lawyers

When I started law practice in the Allahabad High Court in 1970 there was only one lady lawyer coming regularly to the High Court. Sometimes a new young lady lawyer was seen, but after a few months she disappeared. It transpired that she had been coming to the High Court only to while away time till she got married.

A lawyers profession was regarded earlier as unfit for ladies as it was regarded rough and tough , and therefore only fit for males.

Today there would be about 500 lady lawyers coming regularly to the Allahabad High Court. This is no doubt only about 5% of the total number of lawyers in the High Court, but 5% is better than 0%. In Madras High Court, where I went as Chief Justice there would be about 600 lady lawyers, and the same would be the approximate number in Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court, where I was Chief Justice and puisne Judge. 

For ladies no doubt it is not easy to be a lawyer, as she has also to look after her family and home. But to the credit of lady lawyers they are bravely doing their job both of running a law practice, and looking after their families and home.

When I became Acting Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court some lady lawyers came to me and said that they had no place to sit ( in between case hearings), and there was no toilet for ladies. I allotted two big halls for lady lawyers, with wash rooms, toilets, kitchen, furniture, etc and got it air conditioned. It was named the Cornelia Sorabji Hall, after the first lady lawyer in India, Cornelia Sorabji ( 1866-1954 ) who was admitted as a lawyer in the Allahabad High Court in 1924 when the bar on lady lawyers to practice in India was lifted

When I went to Madras High Court as the Chief Justice I allotted some rooms in the High Court premises to serve as a creche, where young married ladies ( lawyers and registry officials ) could leave their children when they came to the High Court, and could take them back home when their work was over. A creche is a modern concept, for keeping children between 1-3 years, while the mother was working. The children are taken care of there by a staff, and given opportunities to learn while they play.

25 comments:

  1. sir I have heard that being a judge one needs to lead a very difficult life,cannot go for shopping ,eat in resturants etc,can you elobrate the dos and don'ts for a judge.

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  3. http://www.legallyindia.com/Blogs/unlike-katju-i-think-lady-lawyers-must-be-banned-from-the-courts

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  6. dear justice katju i cant understand why u blocked me on ur facebook page, i havent made any wrong statement on ur any post, this was a top issue in my office and friend circle today,as i said justice katju blocked me, my one friend said " aur lage rahiye katju k page may,aap nay beetay dino may gaanv k jahil buddhon ko bhi katju ka naam ratwa dia, ek buddhay nay bahar aa kar mujh say kaha " sahab kaam tau hamaar kauno na kihen,pata na ka katju katju kahat rahay hain,e katju k hao sahab,ehi pay charcha sab jani karat rahen,ham budhau say kaha ju badka judge hain,budhau kaha aray raam ho raam,

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    1. Please send me a message on my facebook page and I will unblock you

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  7. dear justice katju i cant understand why u blocked me on ur facebook page, i havent made any wrong statement on ur any post, this was a top issue in my office and friend circle today,as i said justice katju blocked me, my one friend said " aur lage rahiye katju k page may,aap nay beetay dino may gaanv k jahil buddhon ko bhi katju ka naam ratwa dia, ek buddhay nay bahar aa kar mujh say kaha " sahab kaam tau hamaar kauno na kihen,pata na ka katju katju kahat rahay hain,e katju k hao sahab,ehi pay charcha sab jani karat rahen,ham budhau say kaha ju badka judge hain,budhau kaha aray raam ho raam,

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  8. Sir, you will glad to know that from 2013 Banasthali Vidyapith has started five year integrated Law Program (B.A. LL. B./ B.B.A. LL.B./ B.com. LL.B.) exclusively for girl students. We have at present about 300 such students who are aspiring to become lawyers, Judges, Law academicians etc. We may require additional facilities in almost all the courts in India.

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  9. prof.awasthi katju jee is par glad ho saktay hai, lekin kudiyo ko alag say kanoon padhaya jai young law male student glad nahi hoga, ye achchhi baat nahi hai master jee,band karo ye atyachaar

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  11. a tu kaun hai bay,kudiyo say bahar dosti kar, class may nai karnay ka bidu,master sahee kiyela hai bay laundia baj

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  12. abay ham law student hai bay,tu kaun hai bay,chal apna number de ,poora hostel mil k telephone k mouth piece par jo jo gas pass kaega,garaj k sath ki tu pagal ho jaoga, samjha launday baj, a master awasthi band kara ye atuachaar,aur apnay chamchay kabu may rakh

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  13. me jan gya tu kis hostel ka londa log hai,abhi tum logo ko us din ladkiyo ki sikayet par peeta tha me ne,abi aaj tumhara hostel aa phir tum sabko padwata hu, aa raha hai janta ka rkhwala jaggu raja ,betaj badsah

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  14. salam jaguu badsaah,sorry bhai,sorry prof awasthi jee,sorry justice katju jee,mat aana jaggu bhai,samajh gai hum log,aap jo kahte ho wahi sahi mai baap,poray hostel ki phat gai baap,jai jaguu bhai,maaf kar do bhai,eid may aap k ghar aayege ,siwai khayege,roja may bheek de do bhai,ham sab nahi janay ki tum ho bhai,mafi bhai,mafi

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  15. chal maaf kia,nai to jeep nikal gai thee,bachchay ho tameej sikho,ab is pay koi comment mat karna,sab eid may aana siwai bhi milegi eidi bhi duga,„tum loag kya samjhay may anpadh hu,ye to halaat aisay thay ki may jaggu bhai ban gya,nahi to aaj indian army may colonel hota, chalo poray hostel ko maaf kia, no comment needed,u may relax now

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  16. Unlike Katju, I think “lady lawyers” must be banned from the courts http://www.legallyindia.com/Blogs/unlike-katju-i-think-lady-lawyers-must-be-banned-from-the-courts

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  17. Will you please elaborate as to what is your view on the role of lady lawyers and in what fields they can be sucessfull

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  18. thanks for sharing information. this is very nice blog.

    Supreme Court Advocate

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  19. hi

    Thanks for sharing the details through your blog.

    Company Matter Lawyer

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  20. Hi,

    This was a really Nice post. thanks for providing this info. Thanx :)

    Criminal lawyer in Delhi

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