Court Unquote

Women’s Day, Asset Declaration, ArcelorMittal’s ‘Peanuts’ Offer, and More

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March 10, 2026 at 5:30 AM IST

“Institutional intent is no longer enough. It must be accompanied by institutional imagination.”

— Chief Justice of India Surya Kant speaking about women’s representation in higher judiciary during an event to mark International Women’s Day

The Judicial Institution Should be at the Forefront, but Lags Behind in Women Representation
The International Women’s Day observed on March 8 saw a number of speeches and comments made about women’s rights and contributions, as is customary. Institutions across the board, however, including the judiciary continue to maintain the status quo disappointingly. 

The dismal status of women’s representation in higher judiciary is evident from the skewed ratio of women on the bench compared to men and the purported lack of attempt made by the collegium to change that. There is no gainsaying that the members of the judiciary recognise the need for representation, particularly of marginalised groups, in the system. But when this recognition fails to translate into actionable measures, the situation becomes concerning.

The lack of women representation is not for dearth of talent in the lawyering system, to be sure. It is by virtue of a system so opaque that it fails to shake off the suspicion of being designed for the benefit of the legacy members of the infamous all boys club!

Judges at the deciding table often blame the narrow pipeline of women judges at the lower judiciary for the lack of representation but all the Lordships have plenty of room to make fair choices, elevate deserving women to higher judiciary and set an example for the lower judiciary to emulate. After all, the appointment system of the highest order must lead from the front. 

Courts: 

  • Gujarat High Court pulls up ArcelorMittal, which was previously Essar Steel, for a more than a decade long delay in complying with the forest clearance conditions imposed in 2013 and called the company’s compensation offer of ₹30 million “peanuts”

  • Delhi High Court blocks ‘Come Sports’ app on grounds of mimicking Dream11

Quasi Courts:

  • Income Tax Appellate Tribunal quashes reassessment notice for Lalit Modi’s income over credit card and private jet related spends

Others:

  • Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi discloses assets worth over 255 billion rupees in an affidavit filed in the Upper House

The Big Listings:

  • Mar 9: Delhi High Court to hear appeal by CBI against discharge of Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, others in liquor policy case

  • Mar 10: Supreme Court to hear PIL petition seeking tighter probe into Anil Ambani’s fraud allegations

  • Mar 16: Supreme Court to hear WhatsApp, Meta and CCI appeals in data sharing policy case 

  • Mar 19: Delhi High Court to hear Apple Inc.’s plea against India’s competition law’s provisions on global turnover-based penalties on MNC

  • March ‘26: NCLT Allahabad to continue hearing case relating to Jaiprakash Associates insolvency case

  • Apr 7: Supreme Court constitution bench to hear Sabarimala temple reference case

  • Apr 8: Delhi High Court to hear Indigo’s petition seeking 9 billion rupees in refund from customs over re-imports

  • Apr 17: Securities Appellate Tribunal to hear appeal by Jane Street challenging SEBI’s move to allegedly refuse access to important documents to the firm in the case against it

  • May 5: Supreme Court to hear challenge to Citizenship Amendment Act

* The dates of hearing can change and a concrete list is prepared just a day before

Legal Moves: 

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