“ I opened the doors”, exclaimed Fathima Beevi, in an interview, when she was appointed as the First Indian Woman Judge of the Supreme Court in 1989. She was referring to the fact that more women need to enter the judiciary. 

As India prepares to swear in BV Nagarathna, who is poised to be the country's first woman Chief Justice of India, we need to remember that it was justice Fathima Beevi, who paved the way for a brighter, more inclusive future. 

Justice Fathima Beevi was the first woman to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of India in 1989, and her appointment paved the way for more women to be appointed to higher positions in the judiciary.

Fathima Beevi  was a trailblazer in the fight for gender equity in India. Her appointment to the highest court of the land was a significant milestone in the history of women's rights in the country. 

Her contribution to the legal system and her advocacy for gender equality have given a new direction to the cause of women's empowerment in India. She served as Supreme Court justice for six years and was a strong advocate of the notion that the law should be used as a tool to empower women and bring about positive change in the society.

She said that “There should not be any discrimination between candidates on gender basis. A woman should get equal treatment and equal consideration.”

Fatima Beevi's legacy continues to inspire generations of women in India and around the world.