Judiciary's Responsibility to Women's Well-being
The Supreme Court emphasized the need for the judiciary to be more sensitive to the well-being of women judges, especially considering their physical and mental health.
Justice B.V. Nagarathna, heading the bench, expressed concern about the heavy workload, long hours, and high case pendency that women judicial officers face in district judiciary.
The case involved two women judges from Madhya Pradesh, dismissed for "inefficiency" and "misconduct," despite one suffering personal trauma, including a miscarriage
The SC ruled that while gender should not justify poor work performance, it should be a key consideration in understanding challenges women face at work.
Need for Sensitive Work Environment
The judgment called for a more inclusive and sensitive work environment to support women in the judiciary, noting the increasing number of women joining judicial ranks.
Justice Nagarathna highlighted the role of women judges in breaking gender stereotypes and inspiring greater female representation in other government branches.
Court's Decision
The court set aside the termination of the two women judges, calling the actions "arbitrary and illegal," and ordered their reinstatement within 15 days.
The judgment aimed to create a more supportive environment for women in the judiciary.
Justice Nagarathna mentioned the distress women judges endure while managing both court work and personal health issues, such as menstrual pain.
International Perspective
The court referred to international conventions (Article 10 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights), which offer special protection to mothers before and after childbirth.
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