The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has voiced strong concerns regarding the underrepresentation of women in the higher judiciary, encompassing both the Supreme Court and High Courts. In a resolution passed on August 30, 2025, the SCBA urged the Collegium to prioritize gender diversity in upcoming judicial appointments.

The SCBA highlighted the concerning fact that several High Courts, including those in Uttarakhand, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Manipur, currently have no sitting women judges. Across the country, of the approximately 1,100 sanctioned High Court judge positions, around 670 are held by men, while only 103 are held by women.

The association expressed "strong disappointment" that no woman was considered in the recent round of appointments to the Supreme Court. It further noted that no woman judge has been appointed to the Supreme Court since 2021. Currently, Justice B.V. Nagarathna is the sole woman judge on the Supreme Court bench.

The SCBA President, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, had previously written to the Chief Justice of India on May 24, 2025, and July 18, 2025, advocating for at least proportional representation for women in higher judicial appointments.

The resolution emphasized that a greater gender balance on the bench is crucial for ensuring fair and equal representation and for strengthening public confidence in the judiciary. It also enriches judicial perspectives and reflects the diversity of society within the justice system.

The SCBA has formally requested the Chief Justice of India and the Collegium to give "urgent and due consideration" to the appointment and elevation of more women judges in the upcoming rounds of judicial selections for both the Supreme Court and the High Courts.

The SCBA's recent call for greater representation comes amid ongoing discussions surrounding the appointment of Justice Vipul Pancholi to the Supreme Court. Questions have been raised about why he was chosen over several women judges who were senior to him.