Kerala showed India the path to women-led development, says Meghwal

Arjun Ram Meghwal praised Kerala's pioneering women judges during the High Court's platinum jubilee celebrations. The tributes underscored how equality and representation strengthen India's judicial institutions.Image used for representational purposes onlyKochi,Nov 1, 2026 14:20 ISTUnion Minister of State Arjun Ram Meghwal said the people of Keralam had shown the country the path towards women-led development, according to news agency Press Trust of India.Speaking at the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Kerala High Court in Kochi on Sunday, Meghwal highlighted the contributions of Justice Anna Chandy, India's first woman High Court judge, and Justice M Fathima Beevi, the first woman judge of the Supreme Court.Meghwal, the Union Minister of State for Law and Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, described the High Court's 70-year journey as "interesting", saying it had upheld the principles of women's empowerment and women-led development.He said Justice Chandy and Justice Beevi had demonstrated that empowering women was key to achieving sustainable development. "The Keralam people have shown the path to the country for women-led development," PTI quoted Meghwal as saying. Kerala High Court Chief Justice Soumen Sen said the institution's history was reflected in the pioneering achievements of those who broke barriers related to gender and representation in the judiciary."Justice Anna Chandy became the first woman High Court judge in India. Her achievement was a landmark in the history of women's participation in the administration of justice. Justice M Fathima Beevi, who became the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India in 1989, further advanced that historic journey," Chief Justice Sen said. "Her career stands as an enduring testament to professional excellence, determination, and the principle that judicial institutions must remain open to talent and merit, irrespective of gender," he added.Chief Justice Sen also said Justice K G Balakrishnan's elevation as the first Chief Justice of India from Keralam marked a significant milestone in the pursuit of a more representative and inclusive judiciary."These achievements remain reminders that the strength of our institution rests not only on the authority they exercise, but also on their ability to reflect the constitutional promise of equality and equal opportunity," PTI quoted him as saying.The speakers marked the High Court's anniversary by recalling judges from Keralam whose careers advanced women's participation, equality and representation in the Indian judiciary.- Ends