Chennai: President of the Supreme Court Bar
Association P H Parekh on Saturday said women advocates should
'revolt' and demand at least 50 per cent reservation in all
judicial officer posts in the country.
Despite the fact that India had a woman Prime Minister
and today at least four woman Chief Ministers at the helm of
affairs, the country is yet to see a woman occupying the
office of Attorney General, Solictor General or Advocate
General, he said speaking at the inaugural of National
Conference of the All India Federation of Women Lawyers, here.
Telling the large gathering of women lawyers that they
would have to do something to achieve their rightful place, he
wondered why women lawyers did not get what they deserved.
In his inaugural address, Supreme Court Judge Justice P
Sathasivam said the judiciary was performing the role of a
social reformer by upholding the rights of women and reminded
the advocates of their obligation to society.
'In the context of gender justice and equality, the
judiciary has attempted to venture into the critical role of a
social reformer by upholding the rights of women especially
the victims of subordination and suppression, he said.
The judiciary had played its role 'as a court of judicial
restraint and as a progressive, dynamic, creative and proactive
institution for social, economic and cultural transformation.'
He said the judiciary's contribution to improving status
of women, their protection, access to fundamental rights and
dignity could be discerned from a number of its
interpretations of laws and the constitution.
Stating that the Indian judicial system has independently
and effectively intervened on women's emancipation, he said
illiteracy, economic dependence, caste restrictions, religious
prohibition, lack of leadership qualities and apathetic and
callous attitude towards women are the root causes for the
difficulties faced by them.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, January 07, 2012, 20:09