Most inspirational female lawyers in India

This article was written by Jyotika Saroha. The article talks about some of the most inspirational female lawyers in India. It extensively deals with the achievements and contributions of these outstanding female lawyers to society, who contribute to upholding justice and equality in society. 

This article is published by Anshi Mudgal.

Introduction

The fact that women have been the victims of male male-dominated society for a very long wherein they were not allowed to go outside without the permission of their male members. They were not even permitted to go outside for work or for any jobs that are being done by the males. The women never got an equal representation in any sector, be it social, economic or political. Now, in this article, we are discussing the most inspirational female lawyers of India. In the legal system as well, women do not get equal representation to their male counterparts. It is also affected by the male-dominated mindset, which portrays that women are not sufficient to single-handedly manage the work affairs of any profession. It is necessary to keep in mind that out of the 788 judges in the High Courts, 107 are women, which is very less and that is not even 20% of the total strength. It is a shocking fact that 60% of female advocates leave litigation during their 40s, which is known to be the peak years of their careers. 

During the women’s day function at the Supreme Court of India in March 2023, the then Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud called the legal profession in India to be still an ‘old boys club’. He further opined that there is a need for female advocates and judges to take an active part in the legal profession. If we look into the women’s participation in the statutory body, namely the Bar Council of India, there are no female representatives in it, as pointed out by Justice BV Nagarathna, while she was speaking at the convocation of National Law University, Delhi. 

The article tells about some famous female lawyers who have immensely contributed towards the welfare of common people, by providing them with access to justice. 

Cornelia Sorabji

Cornelia Sorabji, the first Indian advocate of India, was born in Bombay on 15th November, 1866. She completed her studies in the United Kingdom, after which she came back to India. She did not get permission to practise in any Indian courts. However, in 1922, she became the first Indian woman to start practising as an advocate. In 1924, the legal profession experienced a good participation of women. Cornelia Sorabji started appearing before the Calcutta High Court, but due to a patriarchal mindset and limited freedom to speak up, she retired in 1929. After retiring, she went back to London and spent her life there. 

She has played a greater role in protecting and promoting women’s rights. She was not only a popular legal face in India, but she had a great impression in other countries as well. She inspired a lot of women at that time who then started joining the profession.

Education

Cornelia Sorabji was not only the first female to become an advocate, but she was also the first lady who graduate from Bombay University, Poona. To pursue her law degree, she went to England and took admission in Oxford University in 1894. Later, she continued to pursue her education at Lincoln’s Inn, a renowned law firm in England. 

Contributions

• Protection of Women’s Rights

Cornelia Sorabji has played a magnificent role in protecting and promoting the rights of women.

1. She represented the pardanashin women, wherein estates were being administered by the courts.
2. She also stressed that the Indian administration to appoint her as a woman legal advisor to the courts of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. 
3. She was associated with the National Council for Women of the Bengal branch in India. 
4. She made various contributions to uplift the status of women and to protect them from harassment and violence. 

• Protection of Child rights: She strongly rejected the idea of child marriages, which existed during the colonial period.  

So, it was the journey of Cornelia Sorabji in her legal profession from which we can infer that she is a true inspiration for many females who want to make a significant remark in the legal profession. 

Now let’s discuss some more female lawyers in the legal profession who have contributed immensely to society.

Menaka Guruswamy

Menaka Guruswamy, a famous legal personality in India and an advocate practising before the Supreme Court, is famous for her active participation in the judgment that struck down Section 377 of the IPC, 1860. She stood up for the rights of the LGBTQ community. She has played a significant role in the upliftment of poor people who are living in the lower strata of society. 

After pursuing her education in foreign, she returned to India and started practising before the Supreme Court. She took part in landmark judgments, including striking down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter referred to as the IPC), the 2G Spectrum scam, etc.

She practices in diverse laws however, constitutional law remains her primary area of interest. She had also been a consultant to the United Nations, where she was one of the members to contribute in the drafting of Nepal’s Constitution.

Education

Menaka Guruswamy completed her B.A. LL.B (Hons) from one of the top law schools of India, i.e. the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, in the year of 1997. After that, she completed her LL.M. from Harvard University. She has also practised as an associate in some law firms in New York. Later, for her academics, she went to Oxford University to pursue her Doctor of Philosophy. When she came back to India, she started working under the guidance of Ashok Desai, the former Attorney General of India, to start her career in advocacy.

Now let’s talk about the contributions made by Menaka Guruswamy.

Contributions

1. She has been actively involved in dealing with cases with respect to human rights, as well as gender rights at the international level.
2. She has been an advisor to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Development Programme. 

1. Menaka Guruswamy also writes for various news columns,  including The Indian Express, Live Mint, etc. and appears for interviews on different legal topics.
2. She has books on different topics and books, and  “Founding Moments in Constitutionalism” was her first book.

Awards

• She has been a part of the 100 most influential Global Thinkers by the Foreign Policy Magazine, 2019
• She was also honoured with the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Law in 2023, for her remarkable work towards the protection of the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

Let’s have a look at the famous cases dealt with by Menaka Guruswamy.

Important cases

Navtej Singh Johar vs. Union of India Ministry of Law And Justice (2018)

The first and landmark case that brought Menaka to the forefront of news headlines was wherein the Supreme Court struck down Section 377 of the IPC. Menaka Guruswamy, in this case, put forward the issues of discrimination and inhumane treatment done to the LGBTQ+ community. Before the court, she contended that homosexuality, bisexuality, etc., is the choice of an individual, neither is it a mental disorder nor is it a physical disorder. The most important contention was made concerning increasing the scope of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution to include sexual orientation under the ambit of the right to privacy.

The court held that Section 377 is a discriminatory provision and is in violation of Articles 14 and 15 of the Indian Constitution. It is also in violation of Article 21, which talks about the right to life and dignity. The five-judge bench of this case held Section 377 of the IPC as not in consonance with the constitutional provisions. By holding Section 377 as unconstitutional, the court stated that this judgment will now give citizens their fundamental rights no matter what their gender is.  

Extra Judicial Execution Victim Families Association & Anr. vs. Union of India & Anr. (2016)

In this case, where 1528 extrajudicial killings were carried out by security men in Manipur, the Supreme Court of India appointed Menaka Guruswamy as the amicus curiae. She advised the bench to make a Special team for the investigation to look into the matter of the killings of persons by the armed forces. 

Sunil Bharti Mittal vs. Central Bureau of Investigation (2015)

This case is popularly known as the 2G spectrum scam, wherein Menaka Guruswamy played an important role as she represented one of the parties before the court. So what happened was, that some politicians of the Congress government were involved in allegedly granting illegal 2G spectrum licences. Menaka Guruswamy contended that there should be a transparent investigation process and that officials need to be accountable for their actions.

The former Telecom Minister, A. Raja and the famous politician Kanimozhi Karunanidhi were the main individuals alleged to be involved in this case. It was stated that A. Raja sold the 2G spectrum licences at a very low rate, which subsequently led to financial losses of around 1760 billion rupees to the government. The Supreme Court, while dealing with this scam in 2012, rejected all the 2G spectrum licences given at low rates. The Apex Court held it unconstitutional and arbitrary. 

Pinky Anand

Pinky Anand is a famous legal personality and a Senior lawyer practising before the Supreme Court, High Courts and tribunals. She practices constitutional law, criminal law, family law and matters of environmental law. She is highly skilled in working on different aspects of law and has earned a reputation not only at the national level but at the international level as well. She was also appointed as the Additional Solicitor General of India in the year 2014. She had also been an Advocate General in Uttarakhand and Goa. 

She actively participates in activities with respect to the legal field and she also works for various social-related causes. She was appointed as a committee member of the National Human Rights Commission. She was appointed as a delegate to represent India at the International Chamber of Commerce on Arbitration. Let’s know more about Pinky Anand, her education, contributions and important cases dealt with her.

Education

Pinky Anand is a graduate of Lady Shri Ram College for Women. She has taken her degree in law from the Faculty of Law, Delhi University. After completing her law, she pursued her LL.M. from Harvard University in 1980.

Awards

Pinky Anand has been awarded with various prestigious awards. She has been awarded for her remarkable works in law by the House of Lords, the House of Commons, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), the Lions Club, Bharat Nirman etc. 

Important cases

S. Khushboo vs. Kanniammal & Anr (2010)

In this case, S. Khushboo, a South Indian actress, was alleged to be involved in the offence of defamation under Sections 499 (now Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023) and 500 of the IPC (now Section 356(2) of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023). So, what happened was that she was found accused of offences committed under Sections 4 and 6 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. Around 23 complaints were lodged against her by the respondent, namely, Kanniammal. He thought that Khushboo had made wrong comments on having sexual intercourse before marriage, which is not as per the contemporary community standards.

Pinky Anand was the advocate who represented S. Khushboo before the Supreme Court of India. She stated that the comments made by the appellant were reasonable and came within the protection of Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, which is freedom of speech and expression. She further stated that the persons who made the complaint were not the ones who are referred to as being “aggrieved” as per Section 199(1)(b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and they could make any private complaints against the appellant. 

The court stated that the appellant did not make any wrong comments which are held to be as obscene. The statements made by the appellant were just personal opinions on the recent increase in incidents of people having sex before getting married. The intention of the appellant was not to cause harm to the reputation of the respondents, and there was no element of mens rea present here. 

Pinky Anand has done a commendable job in the legal field by fearlessly putting forward issues of great importance concerning public interest and welfare.

Indira Jaisingh

Indira Jaisingh is one of the senior female lawyers in India. She was born on 3rd June 1940 in Mumbai. She was the Additional Solicitor General in the year 2009 and she was the first female lawyer to achieve such height in their career. Not only this, she was also the first Senior advocate designated by the Bombay High Court amongst women lawyers. She worked tremendously towards the protection of the rights of women and poor sections of society, the protection of human rights, etc.

Education

Indira Jaisingh completed her schooling in Mumbai and Bengaluru, and from Bangalore University she pursued her degree in law. She pursued her Master of Laws from the Bombay University. 

Contributions

• Founder of the Lawyers Collective organisation: 

1. Indira Jaisingh and her husband are the founders of the Lawyers Collective Organisation, which they founded in the 1980s.
2. Their organisation focuses on raising the fund for the poor sections of society, who are unable to pay the costs of litigation.

1. She is a human rights activist and has been actively involved in the protection of human rights since the start of her career in law.
2. The Bhopal Gas Tragedy, 1984: She strongly supported the victims of the tragedy to provide them with compensation for the suffering caused to them and their families.

1. She is one of the famous personalities who has been known for her remarkable work done for the protection and promotion of women’s rights.
2. She has also been a member of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. 

Awards

• Indira Jaisingh was named one of the 50 great leaders featured in Fortune Magazine in 2018.
• She has been honoured with India’s most prestigious awards i.e. Padma Shri award in 2005, for her hard work and contribution towards the betterment of the public.
• She is an awardee of the Rotary Manav Seva award to promote her efforts in fighting the menace of corruption.

Important cases

Union Carbide Corporation vs. Union Of India Etc (1989)

This is also known as the Bhopal gas tragedy, which is considered to be the devastating tragedy that occurred in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, in 1984. In this case, the gas methyl isocyanate leaked from a Union Carbide pesticide plant, which resulted in a large loss of human lives and the environment as well. Around 3000 people were killed, and many of them sustained severe injuries.

The government strongly acted upon and put various restrictions on factories to work within the norms and policies. Various laws and regulations were also made for the protection of the environment. Indira Jaisingh was one of the advocates who supported the victims in providing urgent compensation for the losses they had suffered.

Indira Jaisingh vs. Supreme Court of India Through Secretary General And Ors. (2017)

In this case, Indira Jaisingh filed a public interest litigation (PIL) while challenging the procedure of designation of senior advocates that existed earlier. She called it arbitrary as it violates Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Indian Constitution. She called the earlier procedure discriminatory, non-transparent and unfair. She highlighted the fact that there is a very short duration of interviews in the designation process, which shows that there is no credibility in the said process. The Supreme Court, in its judgment, gave new guidelines for the designation process of senior advocates. 

Now here we have read about the exceptional contributions of Indira Jaisingh, next, we will be dealing with another senior and a famous lawyer in India namely, Kamini Jaiswal.

Kamini Jaiswal

Kamini Jaiswal is a senior advocate practising in the Supreme Court of India and a famous legal personality in the fields of environment law and human rights. She was involved in cases like the Red Fort attack case, the Akshardham blast case and the Attack on Parliament. 

Contributions

• She actively participates in delivering lectures on different contemporary issues, particularly focusing on human rights.
• She is also appointed as a member of the Committee on Judicial Accountability, a group of advocates working together to improve judicial accountability.

Important cases

Kamini Jaiswal vs. Union of India (2017)

In this case, Kamini Jaiswal and Commission for Judicial Accountability and Reforms (CJAR) filed writ petitions concerning the issues of bribes accepted by judges and their misconduct in the judicial system of India. The petitions were filed when the matter of a High Court Judge who took bribes from some middlemen came up. An FIR was filed against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The primary issue was raised about transparency and accountability in the judicial system. She strongly talked about the issues of nepotism, corruption and arbitrariness in the Indian legal system.

It could be stated that through her unwavering commitment towards protecting the rights of the poor and promoting constitutional principles, she has a strong repute in the legal profession.

Karuna Nundy

Karuna Nundy was born on 28th April 1976, and her father is a renowned doctor, namely Dr. Samiran Nundy, who is also the president of AIIMS Rishikesh. She is a famous lawyer practising in the Supreme Court of India and has recently been given the Senior Advocate designation in 2024. She takes cases related to constitutional law, civil law, arbitration cases, IPR cases, etc. She is also a mediator at the Mediation Centre of the Supreme Court. 

Education

Karuna Nundy did her B.A. (Hons.) in Economics from the renowned St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University. She pursued her degree in law from Cambridge University. Later, she went to Columbia University, New York, to pursue her LL.M. She is also a qualified attorney to practise law in New York. She mainly deals in arbitration disputes.

Contributions

• Recommendations on Criminal Law Amendment Bill, 2013:

1. Karuna Nundy has been asked by the J.S. Verma Committee to suggest reforms in the Criminal Law Amendment Bill, 2013f after the Nirbhaya rape case happened.
2. She contributed and suggested stricter provisions to this anti-rape bill, which was later incorporated into the Indian Penal Code, 1860. 

• Member of arbitration associations:

1. Karuna Nundy has served as a member of the New York State Bar Association on Alternative Dispute Resolution.
2. She is also a member of the London Court of International Arbitration. 

• International lawyer:  Karuna Nundy has also worked as a United Nations lawyer wherein she has assisted the Secretary-General in giving consultations on various conflicts that took place worldwide. 

Awards

You might have heard about the 100 most influential people magazine cover, yes you heard it right. In 2022, Karuna Nundy was named ‘100 Most Influential People’ by Time Magazine for her exceptional work as a woman lawyer in protecting and promoting the rights of people. 

Important cases

Farhan vs. State & Anr. (2022)

In this case, various petitions have been filed before the High Court of Delhi with respect to exception 2 laid down on Marital rape under Section 375 of the IPC, 1860. Karuna Nundy represented the RTI Foundation and All India Democratic Women’s Association. The issue that came up before the Supreme Court was whether a man would be guilty of raping his wife who was of 15 years. Karuna Nundy, in her contention, opposed the exception laid down under Section 375 of IPC (Now Section 63 of BNS, 2023) by stating it as unconstitutional.

She also contended that the exception given under Section 375 of the IPC, 1860 violates Article 14 of the Indian Constitution. She said that it protects men from forcing their wives to have sexual intercourse. She put forward the atrocities faced by the women of lower strata who are forced to have sex without their consent. The Delhi High Court gave a split verdict wherein Justice Rajiv Shakdher supported the removal of the exception given in Section 375 of the IPC and Justice C. Hari Shankar opposed it.

Vrinda Grover

Vrinda Grover is also one of the female advocates of India who is known for her exceptional work towards the protection and promotion of human rights. She primarily takes up cases that deal with sexual and physical violence against women and children. 

Education

She has completed her B.A. in history from the Delhi University, St. Stephens College. After completing her graduation she pursued her law from Campus Law Centre, Delhi University. Later, she went to New York University to pursue her Masters in Law.

Contributions 

Human rights activist: 

1. As stated above, Vrinda Grover is a human rights activist who has worked a lot to uplift the lower sections of society.
2. She also works with the United Nations Human Rights agencies, such as South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR). 

Awards

• Like other popular female legal personalities, she has been named as one of the 100 Most influential people in Times magazine, 2013. 
• She was honoured with the Hakim Khan Sur Award by the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation in 2015.  

Important cases

Zulfikar Nasir & Ors. vs. State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors. (2018)

In this case, riots took place in the small area of Meerut, namely, Hashimpura, which consists of 36% of the Muslim population. This case is also known as the Hashimpura custodial killings, wherein around 45 Muslim men were killed in the encounter by Uttar Pradesh policemen. After some days, the dead bodies of those Muslim men were found in the Ganga Nahar (canal). The primary investigation was done by the Crime Branch of the State of Uttar Pradesh, and charge sheets were filed. The learned Sessions Judge, Ghaziabad, also sent a summon to 23 accused persons, however, it was not successful, as later bail was granted to a few of them. 

The family of the victims moved a transfer petition before the High Court of Delhi in 2007. Vrinda Grover appeared on behalf of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). She put forward the issue of tampering with the evidence when the investigation was going on. She stressed the fact that the killings of a minority community happened due to the feeling of animosity against them. The Delhi High Court in this case sentenced 16 police officials to life imprisonment. The court also dismissed the bail orders given by the Trial Court.

Meenakshi Lekhi

Meenakshi Lekhi, a famous advocate and politician, was born on 30th April, 1967. She has also served as a Minister of State for External Affairs and Minister of State for Culture. She primarily deals in cases related to family law, which consists of disputes of marriage and domestic abuse. She is one of the main spokespersons for the Bharatiya Janata Party and a Member of Parliament from the New Delhi Constituency. Let’s have a look at her educational background, the contributions she made and the cases dealt with by her.

Education

She did her B.Sc. (Hons.) from Hindu College first and then started her career in law by pursuing her LL.B. from Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi in 1990. 

Contributions

1. She was actively involved as a member of the drafting committee of the legislature for women’s reservation bills, including the Muslim Women (Protection Of Rights On Marriage) Act, 2019 and the Sexual Harassment Of Women At Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
2. She is also involved in the works of the National Commission for Women. 

Awards

• She was awarded for her remarkable contribution to public service by the Old Students Association in 2022. 
• She was awarded the best debut woman parliamentarian by Lokmat, 2017.

Important cases

Nitisha vs. Union Of India (2021)

In this case, the issues concerning the matter of permanent commissioning of women in the Indian Armed Forces came up before the Supreme Court. Meenakshi Lekhi represented the petitioner herein and stated that the criteria for men and women should be equal so that discrimination against women must be prohibited. She criticised the criteria prevalent, which did not give women an opportunity to hold posts of command. She further said that the army had submitted the wrong information to the court. The factors like motherhood and physical strength, as per the army rules, stop women from holding such posts in the army, as it violates their right to equality.

The Apex Court observed that the regulations of the Indian army for not allowing permanent commission to women were a discriminatory rule. The court also held that this policy promotes discrimination against women and should be banned so that the principles of equality and justice can be achieved.

Meenakshi Lekhi has time and again put forward issues related to public policy, human rights, political ideologies and various other issues. Next, we will be dealing with one of the fearless personalities in the legal field, namely, Flavia Agnes.

Flavia Agnes

Flavia Agnes, a senior advocate and a writer was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra in 1947 and was brought up in Mangalore, Karnataka. She has been continuously involved in working for women empowerment. She represents them in matters involving matrimonial proceedings, divorce etc. She writes on subjects related to domestic violence, the rights of women and their struggle. 

Education

She did her B.A. in 1980 in the subject of Sociology. After completing her B.A. she pursued her LL.B. in 1988. She then started practising before the Bombay High Court as an advocate. She pursued her LL.M. from the University of Mumbai in 1992. She also has a degree in MPhil from the renowned law school of India namely, National Law School of India University, Bangalore (NLSIU).

Contributions

• She has been an advisor to the Ministry of Women and Child Development in the state of Maharashtra.
• She is also the co-founder of Majlis Legal Centre, an organisation that provides legal representation to women in cases involving matrimony, divorce, etc., with the help of female lawyers. 

Awards

• She was awarded the Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer Lifetime Achievement Award. 
• She was also awarded the Bharatiya Manavata Vikas Puruskar for her contributions in protecting and promoting women’s rights.

Important cases

Mrs. Mary Roy Etc. Etc vs. State Of Kerala & Ors. (1986)

In this landmark case, the petitioner Mary Roy, a Syrian Christian widow, was denied her share of her father’s property by her brothers. Flavia Agnes stood for women’s rights who were denied a share in their father’s property. She stated that there should be some strict legal measures for providing equal rights to women as those of sons on their father’s property.

The Supreme Court in its decision stated that the petitioner woman should get an equal share in her father’s property. The court held that no personal laws are above the Constitution and Articles 14 and 15 must be kept in mind while dealing with such cases. The court held certain discriminatory provisions of the Travancore Christian Succession Act, 1916 as unconstitutional.

Rebecca John

Rebecca John is a senior advocate practising in the Supreme Court particularly dealing with cases related to criminal law. She has dealt with various high-profile criminal cases including the Noida double murder case and the Harshad Mehta Scam.

Education

Rebecca John earned her degree in LL.B. degree in 1988 from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. She got herself enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi. 

Contributions

1. She regularly participates in spreading legal awareness amongst every section of society. 
2. She also gives lectures on the different aspects of criminal law. 

• Protection of women’s rights:

1. She has also been a member of the Internal Complaints Committee of the Delhi High Court to look into the matters of sexual harassment against women.

Important cases

Dr. (Smt.) Nupur Talwar vs. State Of U.P. & Anr. (2017)

In this case, Rebecca John was the advocate for the parents of Aarushi Talwar, a 13-year-old girl who was murdered at her home in Noida in 2008. This case is also known as the Noida double murder case. She stressed the fact that there is no evidence against her parents, which shows that they are the real culprits. She put before the court that there had been a miscarriage of justice as the evidence had been highly tampered with. 

She stated that the case has been handled in an irresponsible manner which resulted in concocted stories and false accusations. This case was covered by the media on a large scale and also led to protests by the public. This is still an unsolved case.

Sidhartha Vashisht @ Manu Sharma vs. State (NCT Of Delhi) (2010)

In this case, Rebecca John represented the deceased victim, namely, Jessica Lal. It is also known as Jessica Lal’s murder case, wherein Jessica Lal was shot in her head by Manu Sharma at a Bar. Rebecca John stated that the accused should get a serious punishment. Manu Sharma, the accused in this case, was acquitted by the Trial Court of Delhi. Later, the High Court of Delhi took cognizance of the matter and, with the help of Rebecca John, Manu Sharma was convicted. 

Harshad S. Mehta vs. Union Of India And Another (1992)

Rebecca John was also involved in the case of stockbroker Harshad Mehta, wherein she contested this case during her early career days in 1992. Due to this scam, India’s economy saw a large loss as Harshad Mehta manipulated 100 billion rupees in 1992 by using fake bank receipts from small banks. With the help of these fake bank receipts, he made a profit of 4000 crore rupees. Rebecca John held a press conference wherein she told the media about this case and also explained the court’s view. As per the court, it was stated that no evidence is available against Mr. Mehta about the allegations of bribery.

Geeta Luthra

Geeta Luthra is a Senior Advocate practising before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India for the last few decades. She primarily deals in cases concerning matrimonial disputes, gender rights, constitutional law, criminal law, money laundering and arbitration, among others. 

Education

She did her B.A. in political science from Lady Shri Ram College in the year 1977. After completing her B.A., she did her LL.B. from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. She started practising law in 1980, before the Supreme Court and various other High Courts. She pursued her Master’s in Law and M.Phil from the University of, United Kingdom, in the field of international relations, 

Contributions

• Legal awareness: Apart from being an advocate, Geeta Luthra is also involved in various other activities, such as conducting seminars, being a guest speaker at conferences and giving lectures on different contemporary legal issues.  

Awards

In 2018, Geetha Luthra was awarded the Woman of the Year by the Indian Merchants Chamber of Commerce & Industry Ladies Wing. 

Important cases

Sunil Bharti Mittal vs. Central Bureau of Investigation (2015)

This case is also known as the 2G spectrum scam, where Geeta Luthra was actively involved and represented some of the accused. The allegations were made about the granting of  2G spectrum licences at very low rates. It resulted in several debates and political controversies against the Congress government in 2007. Geeta Luthra contended that the evidence shown against her parties was being tampered with. She also stated that her clients were accused of a false case and the investigation was not done fairly. The Supreme Court cancelled all the appeals put before it concerning the licences and held that they were unconstitutional.

Smt. Sarla Mudgal, President, Kalyani & Ors. vs. Union of India & Ors. (1995)

In this case, the issue related to bigamy and problems between personal laws on marriage were dealt with. The primary question before the court was can a Hindu male could remarry once he converted to Islam before giving divorce to his first wife. Geeta Luthra stressed the fact that women were treated in a bad way in the name of these old, aged religious practices. 

The Supreme Court held that a Hindu male will be held liable for bigamy according to Section 494 of the IPC (now Section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023). The Apex Court also held that the husband cannot remarry without dissolving his first marriage just because he converted to Islam.

Joseph Shine vs. Union Of India (2017)

In this case, a public interest litigation was filed regarding the constitutional validity of Section 497 of the IPC, which talks about adultery. Geeta Luthra put this before the court and asked for equal responsibility of partners who are accused of the conduct of adultery. She also stated that the principles of equality and personal liberty are important for an individual.

She sheds light upon the modern concept prevailing in society with regard to relationships and challenges the ingredients of Section 497 of the IPC. The Supreme Court held that Section 497 is unconstitutional as it is not a gender-neutral provision. The reason is that if adultery is committed, the husband would only be held liable.

Deepika Singh Rajawat

Deepika Singh Rajawat, one of the present Additional Solicitor General of India was born on 1st January, 1980. She has numerous contributions in the legal field. She is a human rights activist and represented various downtrodden sections of society to uphold social and economic justice in society. Her efforts are recognised at a national, as well as international level for providing justice to the poor and marginalised sections of society.

Education

She has taken her degree in law from a University in Jammu.

Contributions

1. Deepika Singh Rajawat is widely known for her outstanding work for women’s rights and safety.
2. She took up various cases which involved sexual harassment, domestic violence, cruelty, etc. 
3. She has always been very active in raising awareness concerning gender-based violence.

1. Apart from being involved in women’s rights activism, she is highly involved in protecting human rights as well.
2. She works for various organisations such as Child Rights and You (CRY), and she is also the Chairperson of an NGO, Voice for Rights.

Important cases

Mohd. Akhtar vs. The State of Jammu And Kashmir (2018)

In this case, Deepika Singh Rajawat has represented the victim of the Kathua rape case, a minor girl who was raped and then murdered. She continued her support to the victim’s family to provide them with justice for their daughter. Aishwariya was severely criticised when she took up this case. After facing backlash, she was termed as an anti-Hindu and received death threats too. She stated that she will continue to fight for justice.

Deepika Singh Rajawat takes a proactive part in protecting human rights and promoting constitutional values. 

Aishwariya Bhati

Aishwariya Bhati, is a young female advocate who has recently been designated as a Senior advocate by the Supreme Court. She has also cleared the advocate-on-record in the Supreme Court. She belongs to an Army background, therefore, she also wanted to become a pilot in the Indian Air Force. She then came into litigation and is now a practising advocate in the Supreme Court. She was also appointed as India’s 4th youngest Additional Solicitor General. 

Education

Aishwariya Bhati completed her schooling from Jodhpur, in 1992 and pursued B.Sc. from K.N College, Jodhpur in 1995. She pursued her LL.B. from the Faculty of Law of the same college, in 1998.

Contributions

• Women’s and children’s rights

1. She is famous for her exceptional works in the area of women’s rights, child rights and protecting poorer sections of society.

1. She is also actively involved in the anti-tobacco litigation and strongly opposes the consumption of tobacco.

• Representatives at various organisations

1. Being a prominent and famous young advocate, she has represented India at various programs at national as well as international levels.
2. She has been appointed as Honorary Secretary by the Supreme Court Bar Association of India.
3. She was also appointed as a panel lawyer of the Supreme Court Legal Service Committee.
4. She participates in various television debates and conferences as a speaker on legal contemporary issues.

Important cases

Shayara Bano vs. Union Of India And Ors. Ministry of Women and Child Development of India (2017)

In this case, the practice of triple talaq under Muslim personal law was challenged by Aishwariya Bhati. The issues related to gender justice and the protection of women’s rights were discussed. The main issue was whether a Muslim man could give divorce to his wife by merely saying “talaq-e-bidat” thrice.

The Supreme Court held this practice to be discriminatory as it violates Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Indian Constitution. With a 3:2 majority, the court held this practice of triple talaq as unconstitutional and arbitrary. The Supreme Court directed the legislature to frame legislation on this particular topic. Therefore, the Parliament framed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, which came into existence on 31st July, 2019. 

Health For Millions Trust vs. Union of India (2018)

In this case, Aishwariya Bhati criticised the use of tobacco at a large scale and filed a public interest litigation (PIL) on the said issue. She put before the court that there should be large warnings on the tobacco packets. She also took part in organising campaigns for starting anti-tobacco measures. She also works with various NGOs to promote anti-tobacco measures. 

X vs. The Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of NCT Delhi & Anr (2022)

In this case, the issue about the interpretation of provisions of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 came before the court. So, what happened was, a 25-year-old girl got pregnant from her non-marital relationship. She does not want to be the mother of the child and asked to terminate her pregnancy. She stated that her boyfriend had refused to accept her and they would not get married now. Due to the fear of social stigma, she preferred a writ petition before the Delhi High Court to terminate her pregnancy. The petition was set aside by the Delhi High Court. She filed an appeal before the Supreme Court against the order of the High Court. 

Ms. Aishwariya Bhati, Additional Solicitor General, in this case, assisted the Apex Court in interpreting Section 3(2) of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971. She stated that the language of the bare Act should be interpreted in its real sense to determine its object.

It was contended that Section 3(2) of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 applies to girls who were in relationships for a long time but not married yet. The Supreme Court, therefore, allowed for the termination of the 24 weeks of pregnancy. The court said that unmarried females also possess the same reproductive rights as married women. The court held that the right to make decisions about her reproductive autonomy also comes under the scope of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. 

Conclusion

It could be said that to achieve the goals of equality between men and women, efforts shall be made to increase women’s participation in every field, including the legal field. The patriarchal era used to restrict women from taking part or saying anything; however, that era has gone. Now women actively participate not only in decision-making but also in leading those decisions. Every year, the number of female advocates and judges is reluctant to pursue their careers in the legal field. 

Programmes, including the South Asian Women Foundation India Legal Fellowship Programme and the Indian Litigation Fellowship Programme, provide support for the fruitful participation of females in the legal field. The organisations, including the Centre for Women and the Law of the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, in collaboration with social activists, started various legal literacy campaigns for women to make them aware of their rights.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who are some of the most popular female lawyers in the world?

They include Charlotte E. Ray, Anita Hill, Janet Rano and Gloria Allred are some of the popular legal faces around the world. 

Name some support networks available for female lawyers.

Organisations like All India Federation of Women Lawyers (AIFWL), South Asian Women in Law (SAWIL), Womankind Worldwide, and Women Lawyers’ Committee are some of the support networks for women in the legal field.

References

https://www.livelaw.in/breaking-sc-dismisses-kamini-jaiswals-petition-in-medical-bribery-case-terms-allegations-as-contemptuous-but-desisting-from-initiating-contempt/

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