116 women judges among 814 judges across high courts in India: Govt in LS

As many as 116 out of total 814 serving judges in India's 25 high courts are women, representing approximately 14 per cent of the working strength, according to recent data presented in the Lok Sabha.

The information was provided by Minister of State for Law and Justice (Independent Charge) Arjun Ram Meghwal in response to a parliamentary query. As of February 2, 2026, the sanctioned strength of judges across the high courts stands at 1,122, with 814 judges currently in position, leaving significant vacancies.

Punjab and Haryana High Court has the highest number of women judges at 18, followed by Bombay High Court with 12 women judges out of 80 total judges.

Delhi High Court and Madras High Court each have 10 women judges, with Delhi having 10 out of 44 and Madras 10 out of 53. Karnataka High Court follows with 9, while Calcutta High Court has 8. Gujarat, Telangana, and Allahabad High Courts each have 7 women judges

Andhra Pradesh and Gauhati High Courts have 5 each. Fourteen high courts, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala, have fewer than 5 women judges. Uttarakhand, Tripura, and Manipur have no women judges, while Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh each have just one.

In the Supreme Court, only one woman judge is currently serving — Justice B.V. Nagarathna — out of 33 sitting judges.

The minister clarified that appointments to the Supreme Court and high courts are governed by Articles 124, 217, and 224 of the Constitution, which do not provide for reservations based on caste, class, or gender.

 However, he emphasised the government's commitment to promoting social diversity in the judiciary.

Meghwal stated that the government has been urging Chief Justices of high courts to consider suitable candidates from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, minorities, and women when recommending appointments.

Since 2014, 170 women judges have been appointed to high courts, including 96 in the last five years. Additionally, six women have been appointed to the Supreme Court during the same period.