Justice Hima Kohli Bids Adieu to Supreme Court

At her farewell function, Supreme Court Judge Justice Hima Kohli remarked that as she retires, her wardrobe will no longer be dominated by blacks, whites, and greys, but she will explore attire in different colors. Justice Kohli made these comments during a speech at the farewell event organized for her by the Supreme Court Bar Association.

“Now that I lay down office, I do not intend to hang my boots or store my sandals. Rather, let me assure you, I do not intend to hang my boots or, shall I personalize it and say, store my sandals. Very recently, I was asked if I am retiring or re-attiring. It didn’t take me a moment to say that I am re-attiring,” Justice Kohli said.

She further elaborated that this means the blacks, whites, and greys will not occupy all the space in her wardrobe. “In my sixth phase of life, I will try to re-attire myself in different colors of the VIBGYOR,” Justice Kohli added. This transition means making time for family and friends and reigniting her interest in hobbies that have long been on the backburner.

Justice Kohli has served as a judge of the Delhi High Court and as Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court before her elevation to the Supreme Court. She will retire on September 1, 2024, after which the number of women judges at the top court will be reduced to two.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, speaking on the occasion, praised Justice Kohli as an inspiration to young lawyers and judges across the country. In response to the SCBA President and Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal’s call for an increase in the number of women judges, CJI Chandrachud emphasized the need to start such initiatives from the foundational levels of the profession.

CJI Chandrachud noted that 78 out of 108 recruits to the Delhi district judiciary were women, attributing this to the spread of women’s education and the creation of equal opportunity workspaces. “The reason why women are joining the district judiciary in such large numbers is because there is a level playing field at the very threshold,” CJI said, adding that the legal profession lacks a level playing field for women entering the profession.

“I would therefore request all seniors to reconsider recruitment practices. Let’s not recruit juniors purely based on networks or personal connections. Why not have the SCBA announce which seniors are looking to recruit juniors for the next term, creating a level playing field for applications?” CJI Chandrachud proposed.

He emphasized that creating a level playing field for women in the legal profession would allow them to succeed and eventually ascend to higher judicial positions. “We ought not to question why there are so few women judges in the Supreme Court. We need to focus on creating better working conditions for women at all levels of the judiciary,” CJI Chandrachud said.

CJI Chandrachud also highlighted Justice Kohli’s role as the chairperson of the Supreme Court’s Gender Sensitization and Internal Complaints Committee, emphasizing that gender justice is central to a just society. “Above all, Hima has conveyed a crucial message that to succeed as a woman, you do not have to forsake your femininity,” CJI Chandrachud said. He added that it is vital for women professionals to bring their unique traits, including compassion and sensitivity, to the profession, rather than conforming to a male-centric model.

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