Judge advises women lawyers to shun movies and parlor visits

Judge advises women lawyers to shun movies and parlor visits

Justice Pratibha M Singh was speaking at the event organized by 'Women in Law and Litigation'

The Delhi High Court judge Pratibha M Singh has urged women lawyers, not to seek sympathy from the court since it would lead to the bench stereotyping them.

Justice Singh was speaking on the achievements and challenges of women at the bar at an event organized by 'Women in Law and Litigation' to felicitate the judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Hima Kohli.

At the event, Justice Singh was introduced as a superstar in the field of Intellectual Property Law. She advised women lawyers to ditch the attitude that one must sacrifice either work or family and instead break stereotypes by devising ways to multi-task.

"Do not seek sympathy from the court. Do not tell how you will pick up your child. That stereotypes you," she counseled. "Be competent, give up Bollywood movies and parlor time. Dedicate to law. Pick your battles. Do not fight with all," she added.

The Delhi High Court judge said that a focus on specialization, rather than a sacrificing attitude, was essential for women to progress in the field of law. "Always keep a domestic help; always keep drivers," she suggested. She further proposed, "Take children with you while briefing senior counsels and make them do their homework. This is what I did during my tenure," she revealed.

Justice Singh said that women lawyers might face situations where the child says, "Mummy is not at home," but one day he/she would be proud that his/her mother is a lawyer."

She praised the Delhi High Court describing it as the most cosmopolitan where religion, caste and marital status were irrelevant. And senior women lawyers had to work twice as hard as their male counterparts.

"It is not about glass ceiling anymore; there is no ceiling. I would like to tell the judges and lawyers of Delhi High Court, thank you for believing that women are not only good for pass-overs and adjournments."

She felt the Covid-19 pandemic had been a boon for women lawyers who could now appear virtually from home and had their own workspace.

She reminded how Justice Leila Seth, the first female judge of the Delhi High Court, was a source of wonder for the people of the country who had not seen or perhaps even imagined, that a woman could be a judge.

"I remember, Justice Seth was once informed that one day a group of farmers had first visited the zoo and then went to the court to see a woman judge!"

Supreme Court judge, Justice Indira Banerjee and Delhi High Court judge, Justice Rekha Palli also spoke at the event where Chief Justice of India NV Ramana was the chief guest.