India’s First Female Supreme Court Judge Passes Away

Justice M. Fathima Beevi, the first female judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court of India, passed away yesterday at the age of 96 in Kollam, Kerala. The late Justice Beevi also served as the Governor of Tamil Nadu from 1997 till 2001. 

Justice Beevi was born on 30th April 1927, in Kerala. She was encouraged by her father to pursue a law degree. In 1950, she topped the exam and became the first woman to receive a Gold medal from the Bar Council of India. 

She started her career as an advocate in Kerala and in 1974, she became a district and session judge. In 1983, she was appointed as a judge in the Kerala High Court. In 1989, she created history by becoming the first woman judge in the Supreme Court of India. She was also the first Muslim woman to become a part of the higher judiciary. 

After her retirement, she served as a member of the National Human Rights Commission, before being appointed as Governor of Tamil Nadu in 1997. 

The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan and other ministers have come forward to express their condolences. Justice Beevi served as an inspiration to millions of Indians and paved the way for other women to follow in her footsteps. To date, there have been eleven Female Supreme Court judges in India. Even after her demise, Justice Beevi will be remembered as a visionary.