Kathmandu — Indian Chief Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai has praised Nepal for ensuring significant female participation in both parliament and the judiciary, noting that the country has achieved milestones that India is still awaiting.
Speaking at the Nepal–India Judicial Dialogue 2025 in Kathmandu, Gavai highlighted Nepal’s policy of reserving 33 percent of parliamentary seats for women and the historic appointment of a woman as Chief Justice.
“I was delighted to learn about Nepal’s constitutional guarantee of one-third representation for women in parliament. It is also remarkable that Nepal has already had a female Chief Justice,” Gavai said at the Yak & Yeti Hotel on Friday.
Nepal’s Judicial Milestones and India’s Delay
Nepal appointed its first female Chief Justice, Sushila Karki, in 2016. She remains a trailblazer as the only woman to have led the Supreme Court. Current Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut will retire in March 2026, after which Sapana Pradhan Malla is expected to become the second female Chief Justice, pending parliamentary approval.
By contrast, Gavai noted, India will only see its first female Chief Justice in September 2027, when Justice B.V. Nagarathna takes office based on seniority. Her tenure, however, will be brief — just 36 days before retirement in late October.
Nagarathna has previously spoken about challenges for women in law, pointing out that many step back from their careers due to marriage and childcare responsibilities, making leadership roles harder to attain.
Systemic Challenges and Gender Representation
While India has seen women serve as Prime Minister, President, and Chief Ministers, its judiciary has never had female leadership. Nepal, despite its own challenges, has already crossed that milestone.
At the dialogue, the presence of former Chief Justice Sushila Karki further underscored Nepal’s progress in gender inclusion within the judiciary.
Analysts point to India’s “collegium system” — where the Chief Justice and senior judges control appointments — as a reason for slow progress. Although women are increasing in number at the district court level, their presence in high courts and the Supreme Court remains limited.
Nepal’s model of constitutional quotas has created stronger representation, contrasting India’s seniority-based system that has yet to elevate women to the top judicial post.
