👩🏽⚖️ A Historic Day For Justice in India
Here's what you need to know for today in 3:51 minutes
Today’s Big Story
For the first time in the history of the Supreme Court, 9 judges including 3 women were sworn in by the Chief Justice of India, N V Ramana at 10.30 AM yesterday.
One of the 3 women sworn in is in line to become the Chief Justice of India in 2027 which is a historic moment for gender representation.
📯 What’s Going On?
All the new judges sworn in belong to 9 different states of India and represent various castes and communities. Justice B V Nagarathna from the Karnataka High Court will become the first woman Chief Justice of India in 2027, a milestone in the country's history.
This was a day of many firsts:
9 judges were sworn which is the highest ever number of judges to be appointed at one go to the top court.
The ceremony took place in the SC’s auditorium instead of the CJI’s courtroom due to COVID protocols.
The ceremony was broadcast live for the first time ever and the whole country could watch the swearing in ceremony from their homes.
It is the first time 4 women judges will be in the SC at the same time (the highest number ever) of which 1 will go on to become CJI in 2027.
🔍 What Does this Mean?
Many on both sides term this historic achievement as a proud moment for India.
"With the swearing-in of the nine new judges, the strength of the Supreme Court has risen to 33, including the CJI, out of the sanctioned strength of 34. The recommendation of these nine names by the five-member collegium headed by CJI Ramana at its meeting on August 17 had put an end to the 21-month-long logjam over the appointment of new judges to the top court." - The Mint
"Three women judges, one judge from the Scheduled Caste and another belonging to the Other Backward Class are among the nine new judges of the Supreme Court notified by President Ram Nath Kovind Thursday afternoon. While the panel’s proposal came under mild criticism for overlooking several senior judges, sources in SC told ThePrint that the selections were made to ensure adequate representation from all communities and regions." - The Print
"This is the largest number of names recommended by the collegium at one go for appointment as judges of the SC and the quickest, within a week, clearance by the PMO. Importantly, the names include three woman judges — Justices Hima Kohli, B V Nagarathna and Bela Trivedi — and one among whom, Justice Nagarathna, will go on to become the first woman CJI in the year 2027" - The Times of India
"It is a historic day for the Indian judiciary as the Supreme Court of India will get nine new judges on Tuesday. The top court, which came into being on January 26, 1950, has seen very few women judges since its inception and in the last over 71 years has appointed only eight lady judges starting from M Fathima Beevi in 1989." - Zee News
💭 Why Should I Care?
"Law is long but life is short"
This is an extremely proud moment for India. It is so fantastic to have 3 new women sworn in to the Supreme Court of India in just one day and is a very welcome move because representation of women in the SC has been very low in the past. The top court, which came into being on January 26, 1950, has seen very few women judges since its inception and in the last over 71 years has appointed only eight lady judges starting from M Fathima Beevi in 1989.
It is a historic day for justice in the country. The 9 new judges have had an established track record of upholding human rights. Moreover, Justice B V Narathna has been a huge champion of women's rights in India.
With these appointments, the top court strength went from 24 to 33 with just one vacancy left. The issue of vacancies in the Supreme Court had been a huge problem and a cause for massive delays in deliverance of justice. But now, the Supreme Court will operate at a near optimal rate and India really needs that.
A few key judgments by the newly appointed Supreme Court Justices are:
"If the State takes any action for inter-religion marriage, you come to us, we will protect you." - Justice Vikram Nath
"Nobody can study on a hungry stomach." - Justice B V Narathna
"Law is long but life is short" - Justice C T Ravikumar highlighting the importance of speedy trials
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💡 Below the Fold
Wide awake at 3 AM and unable to fall back to sleep?
Readers from the New York times share some creative and out-of-the box strategies to overcome insomnia:
“Whales talking at low volume seems to do the trick for me,” one reader told us. Another said he prefers classical music. “If I lay awake, at least I get a little taste of culture,” he said.
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