On Sunday, Chief Justice of India N V Ramana urged women lawyers to fight for a 50 percent reservation in the judiciary, promising them of his "complete support." "I don't want you to cry but with anger, you have to shout and demand that we need 50 per cent reservation," he said.
"It's a matter of right, not charity," the CJI remarked, adding that it's an issue of thousands of years of oppression and that women are entitled to the reservation.
He said, "I want to say that I strongly recommend and support the demand of a certain percentage of reservation in all law schools of the country for women, so that they can join the judiciary."
CJI Ramana said at a felicitation celebration for the nine newly appointed judges, including three women justices, organised by the Lady Advocates of the Supreme Court, that he has revised Karl Marx's "Workers of the World Unite." "You have nothing to lose but your chain" as "Women of the world unite. You have nothing to lose but your chain."
The CJI said, "You all are laughing. Yes, I don't want you to cry but with anger, you have to shout and demand that we need 50 per cent reservation. It's not a small issue but an issue of thousands of years of suppression. It is high time we have 50 per cent representation of women in the judiciary. You are entitled (to it), it's a matter of right. It is not a matter a charity. It is unfortunate that some things are realised very late."
"All my sisters and all of you have carved out exceptions for people in the society and women of the society and for that matter youngsters whether male or female are all waiting and looking at you as if you are role models. Your success stories will make them more impulsive and we expect more women will join the profession and we will achieve the goal of 50 per cent shortly. I wholeheartedly support all initiatives taken by you and so long as I am here I will support all of your causes," he said.
The Chief Justice of India stated that he believes in mixing with people and learning about their perspectives so that he can better grasp the problems that society is facing, but that he is tired of giving lectures these days.
In response to lawyers' calls for the Supreme Court to reopen for physical hearings, which have been ongoing since the beginning of the outbreak, the CJI stated that he hopes to resume them after the Dussehra holiday.
