Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has called attention to the stark disparity in women’s representation across different levels of the judiciary, observing that while women constitute over 50% of candidates selected for entry-level judicial posts in several States, their representation progressively declines at senior levels and remains considerably low in the High Courts and the Supreme Court.
Drawing a comparison between recruitment to the subordinate judiciary and appointments through the Collegium system, Justice Bhuyan said that objective selection criteria have resulted in a substantially higher representation of women, whereas their numbers fall sharply when appointments involve Collegium recommendations. He suggested that every Collegium should include a woman judge as an invitee to its proceedings to ensure better representation and a fuller understanding of the position of women at the Bar.
Speaking at the 12th Convocation of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) 2026, where he was the Chief Guest, Justice Bhuyan said that his research showed a significantly higher proportion of women among candidates selected for entry-level judicial posts through objective selection criteria.
He referred to judicial service selections in Meghalaya, Assam, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Telangana, where women constituted more than 50% of those selected for Grade III judicial service. In Assam, the figure was 65%. However, he said, the proportion declined at the subsequent levels. At the Grade II level, corresponding to Chief Judicial Magistrates, women accounted for around 35–45% of those selected, while at Grade I, the figure was approximately 25–30%.
Justice Bhuyan then drew attention to the representation of women in the High Courts and the Supreme Court, observing that the proportion fell sharply when appointments were made through the Collegium system.
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“My research has shown that when the selection is objective, is based on some objective criteria, we see a large number of women candidates in the service. For example, in the judicial services across the States, whether it is Meghalaya, Assam, Rajasthan, Maharashtra or Telangana, if you see the entry-level Grade III judicial service, it is almost more than 50%. In Assam, it was 65%. But when the selection becomes subjective in the form of selection or recommendation by the Collegium, those who are from the legal background will know, suddenly there is a sharp fall in the percentage of women, whether it is in the High Courts or in the Supreme Court.”
Referring to the composition of the Supreme Court, Justice Bhuyan said that there were only three women judges among its 35 judges, which does reflect the real proportion of women lawyers in the country or the women in the country.
Justice Bhuyan also spoke about a suggestion made to him in a conference organised this year in March by a group of women lawyers in the Supreme Court complex on the representation of women as senior advocates and judges of the High Courts and the Supreme Court.
He said that the increasing entry of women into the legal profession had not translated into adequate representation among those designated as senior advocates or appointed to constitutional courts. He suggested that every Collegium should include a woman judge as an invitee to its proceedings. He said:
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“I had suggested that every Collegium, these are all male-dominated Collegiums, should incorporate a woman judge as an invitee to the Collegium proceedings. This will give better representation and a better understanding of the situation at the Bar.”
On Education And Moral Leadership
In his address to the graduating students, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said that the purpose of education should extend beyond acquiring skills for livelihood and should also involve cultivating the mind and elevating the spirit.
Referring to the thoughts of Aristotle, Albert Einstein, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Martin Luther King Jr., he spoke about the role of education in developing character and values. He also recalled Nani Palkhivala’s 1972 address at Bangalore University, in which Palkhivala had identified two functions of education: to enlighten understanding and to enrich character.
Justice Bhuyan said that moral leadership must be rooted in courage, intellectual integrity and values. He also congratulated the graduating students and acknowledged the university’s progress over the past 12 years.