The Plight of Women Judicial Officers in Rajasthan
Rajasthan has witnessed progressive growth as women magistrates have joined the Rajasthan Judiciary Services (RJS).
Of 222 selected candidates for judicial magistrate posts, the results of the recent RJS examination gave a historic 150 women-an indication of gender representation in the judiciary, and yet, beneath that milestone lies a grim reality.
Lack of Basic Amenities in Remote Areas
Rajasthan, particularly districts that are far-flung, reveal a rather disturbing narrative of systemic neglect and harassment and overwork in the case of women judicial officers.
Among the judicial officers serving in the remote districts of Rajasthan, such as Barmer, Jaisalmer, and Dholpur, are afflicted with severe infrastructural deficiencies.
There are cases where there are many court complexes that lack basic facilities such as working toilets, safe drinking water, or even safe living quarters for a woman officer.
Women magistrates reported that in Pali and Churu they had seen cases where access to toilets had to be covered over long distances through hazardous circumstances accompanied by public embarrassment.
A judicial officer who has been posted to Jalore, talking with The Philox, anonymously said, “I had to carry water bottles and snacks from home because there is no drinking water facility at the court premises.The living quarters provided were in such a dilapidated condition that I had to rent a place nearby, despite it being unsafe for a single woman.”.
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
The most glaring example has to be that of former judicial magistrate Eliza Gupta, serving in Udaipur, who leveled allegations of harassment by senior judges and lawyers that eventually resulted in her termination from service.
In a letter dated December 15, 2023, she wrote to the Supreme Court, President Droupadi Murmu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leveling allegations that colleagues had worked to undermine her authority and subjected her to mental and emotional trauma.
In fact, her allegations raised such a furor in the legal circles that lawyers accused her of misusing judicial powers. Gupta’s case is no incident alone but a series of events where women in judiciary are silenced whenever they raise their voices against wrongdoing.
Overburdened with work and No Relief
Judicial officers, including women, have to carry an overwhelming backlog of cases in Rajasthan judicial systems. Thousands of pending cases in courts are awaiting trial, putting strains on courts in the districts of Sikar and Alwar, which has little scope for relaxation.
Extra long hours work in excess, without adequate supporting staff or resources, the women magistrates have complained. Leave is denied them, and they are sent back to court even during emergencies, with this very heavy workload at hand.
As one of the magistrates from Jhunjhunu aptly puts it: “I had a family emergency, but my leave was rejected because the court couldn’t afford to delay hearings. The stress is unbearable, and there’s no one to turn to for help.” Cultural and Social Issues
Deep-rooted patriarchal culture in Rajasthan makes things even worse for the female judicial officers.
The conservative region of Bikaner and Bharatpur remains a challenging place for women judges as male colleagues and local people are opposed to them due to this traditional background and do not like to accept authority from women.
One magistrate, posted in Kota, told this correspondent, “During the hearings I had to conduct, day after day, I was constantly interrupted by male lawyers, raising questions about my knowledge and decisions. It was like having to prove my competence every day of the week, just because I am a woman.”
Some women judicial officers confided through anonymous instances:
Ajmer District: A woman magistrate reported receiving late night calls from a senior judge of the high court who uttered unsuitable remarks and forced her to attend private meetings after working hours. She lodged a complaint, nothing happened, and she was transferred to some other remote location.
She had only recently entered the service and was publicly ridiculed in open court by elder male advocates for her judgment against a well-known local businessman. She was then complained against, inter alia, for frivolousness, and she underwent an internal inquiry.
Barmer District: In a training, a female magistrate was harangued by some of her male colleagues, who made derisive comments about her appearance and marital status.
The Judiciary’s Response and Way Forward
Despite these appalling anecdotes, the Rajasthan judiciary has thus far been reluctant to respond. Committees formed to inquire into allegations of harassment at the workplace and lack of independence and transparency has resulted in failure to deliver justice.
Experts say that there is an urgent need for systemic reforms by the Rajasthan judiciary to effectively address these issues.
- Setting up Gender-Sensitive Committees: Independent and gender-sensitive redressal mechanisms at the district level and at the state level should be set up to take care of harassment complaints.
- Infrastructure Improvement: Basic facilities like toilets, drinking water, and safe places to stay, especially at the district levels in remote districts, should be provided overnight.
- Psychological Counseling: Counseling and mental health care for judicial officers who are overworked should be taken into consideration and taken care of so that they are not pressurized.
- Workplace Training: While more sensitivity programs are warranted for male judges and lawyers, it’s time to transform the workplace so it will be friendly, respectful, and nontoxic to female lawyers.
A Call for Change
Rajasthan’s concerns for judicial women officers reflect large-scale integration challenges of gender equity into the judicial system.
Moreover, though the increasing number of women entering the judiciary sounds like a positive development, their experiences obviously reflect the need for systemic reforms to create a safer and supportive work environment.
As Rajasthan moves forward, the judiciary should take full care of its officers and ensure that the women who serve justice are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.
