Telangana sets new benchmark in gender diversity in judiciary

Hyderabad: Telangana has emerged as a leader in enhancing gender diversity within its judiciary. According to the India Justice Report 2025, the state now boasts over 30% women judges in its high court and more than 55% in subordinate courts, far exceeding the national averages of 14% and 37% respectively.

This progress highlights not only the growing presence of women at all levels of the judiciary but also the state’s role in setting a new benchmark for gender inclusion in India’s legal system.

The Telangana high court alone boasts 33.3% women judges, a significant rise from just 10% in 2017. “While the share of women in subordinate courts has risen consistently in all states, the growth in the high courts has not been the same. No state except Telangana and Sikkim has more than 30% women judges in the high courts. Uttarakhand reported not having a single woman judge,” the report said.

Justice G Radha Rani of the Telangana high court attributed this progress to a growing number of women entering the judiciary at the district level, drawn by the promise of stable employment and financial independence.

“While male advocates with sufficient practice are not preferring the jobs of judges and magistrates, women are preferring it, and more women are clearing the selection process that comprises a written test and interview,” she explained.

Despite this impressive representation in subordinate courts, Justice Radha Rani acknowledged that women remain underrepresented at the higher levels of the judiciary. Yet, she emphasised that Telangana’s performance—33.3% women in its high court—surpasses most other high courts and even the Supreme Court, where women comprise just 6% of the bench.

One structural challenge lies in the process of elevation from the Bar, where women face additional hurdles. “Most of the women judges are elevated from the district courts, and very few women are selected from the high court Bar. For getting selected from the Bar, the advocates should be able to show sufficient practice as an advocate along with income tax credentials, etc., and meeting this criterion is difficult for women,” Justice Radha Rani pointed out.

Legal experts said as Telangana leads by example, its strides in gender equity within the judiciary could serve as a blueprint for other states aiming to bridge the gender gap in the legal profession.