Justice Leila Seth was the first woman Chief Justice of a High Court; She became the Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court in 1991 and she was also the first woman judge of the Delhi High Court. Justice Leila Seth’s career trajectory has truly been one of the most iconic, which many have tried to emulate. She was truly the most powerful representation of determination and grace in the early 20th century for Indian women.
In this article, we will look into the details of the First Woman Chief Justice of the High Court – Leila Seth.
Let’s start.
First Woman Chief Justice of High Court in India
First Woman Chief Justice of High Court in India: Leila Seth
Justice Leila Seth was the first woman Chief Justice of a High Court and was also the first woman judge of the Delhi High Court. She was also the first woman to top the London Bar Exam in 1958. Justice Leila Seth had many “firsts” in her exceptional legal career, and this article highlights her life and her journey, by focusing on every aspect of her life. Please go through this article for important keywords relating to the first woman Chief Justice of the High Court in India.
Overview of First Woman Chief Justice of High Court in India: Leila Seth
| Event |
Description |
| Birth |
Leila Seth was born on October 20, 1930, in Lucknow, British India. |
| Education |
She studied law at the University of Delhi, where she obtained her LL.B. degree in 1958, and later pursued further studies at Harvard Law School, receiving an LL.M. degree in 1959. |
| Legal Career |
Leila Seth had a distinguished legal career. She became the first woman judge on the Delhi High Court in 1978 and also the first woman to be appointed as the Chief Justice of a state High Court in India, serving as the Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court from 1991 to 1992. |
| Achievements |
In addition to her legal career, Leila Seth was a notable author. Her autobiography “On Balance” received critical acclaim. She was also a strong advocate for women’s rights and education. |
| Family Life |
Leila Seth was married to Prem Nath Seth, an engineer. Together they had three children, including Vikram Seth, a renowned author. |
| Death |
Leila Seth passed away on May 5, 2017, in Noida, India, at the age of 86. Her death was mourned by the legal community and beyond, recognizing her contributions to the legal field and society at large. |
Early Life
Leila Seth, the first daughter among two sons to her parents, was born on 20 October 1930 in Lucknow. She faced many challenges and overcame them very early on in her life, when she experienced the death of her father, whom she was very close to, at the age of 11. She also experienced immense financial difficulties after the death of her father, and her mother somehow managed to put her in Loreto Convent, Darjeeling; all these hardships shaped her into a strong, determined woman who would break gender barriers in the future.
She briefly worked as a stenographer in Kolkata, after her schooling finished, and there she met her future husband, who would change her life completely. Leila Seth from very early on in her life had a great sense of responsibility towards her family and immense willpower to succeed in life.
Education and Marriage
Leila was introduced to her husband Prem Seth, while working as a stenographer in Kolkata. She described her marriage as “semi arranged” and soon shifted to London with her husband, who worked at Bata, post her marriage. Her interest in pursuing law was ignited while she was in London. She stated that as a young mother, pursuing law was convenient for her, as she did not have to attend classes, and could prioritize her child.
Leila Seth gave the London Bar Exam in 1958 and secured the top spot at the age of 27, becoming the first woman to achieve this feat. Leila joined the Bar in 1959, the same year she also cleared the civil services examination to be an IAS officer. Topping the Bar in England was a groundbreaking achievement by Leila Seth, as a woman and as an Indian.
Legal Career of Leila Seth
Early Days of Legal Journey at Patna
Leila began to practice law in Patna after moving back to India, which was immediately after she joined the London Bar. At Patna, Leila Seth handled a variety of cases, ranging from matters relating to different taxes (Income Tax, Sales Tax, Excise and Customs tax), to Company Law, Constitutional Law, Civil, Criminal cases. She also handled matrimonial suits and public interest litigations.
Leila in the later stages of her career talked about how she faced sexism , skepticism and gender bias while pursuing law at Patna, because it was a male dominated profession. Not many women were in the profession of law, and Leila later said she used to get less work because people thought women lawyers weren’t as capable as men; Despite facing many hurdles, Leila worked at the Patna High Court for 10 years.
Work at Delhi High Court
It was her dedicated work at Delhi High Court that put Leila on a spotlight. Here she worked on original civil petitions, criminal matters, company petitions, revisions and appeals. In the same year she moved to Delhi, Leila took her first step towards a career at the Supreme Court by handling tax matters, writ petitions and constitutional civil and criminal appeals. Leila broke yet another gender barrier in the Indian Judiciary when she was appointed as the first woman judge in 1978. This achievement was a significant step in her own legal career as well a symbol of hope for other women aspiring to practice law.
From Judge to Chief Justice
Leila once again reserved a spot for herself in the history of Indian judiciary, when after 13 years of being a High Court Judge she became first woman to take the position of Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in 1991. This commendable feat was achieved by Leila through meticulous work she did all these years practicing law and never giving up on her passion despite all obstacles.
Brief Overview of Leila Seth’s Other Works
Leila’s exemplary work went beyond the courtroom doors as she chaired various judicial and humanitarian institutions. She undertook many issues regarding empowerment of women, one of the examples being her in charge the campaign to give daughters inheritance rights over ancestral property in the Hindu Succession Act (1956) as a member of the 15th Law Commission of India from 1997-2000.
Leila Seth was a part of many enquiry commissions, investigating issues like custodial deaths, the effect of media on children; Other than this Justice Seth also served as the Chair of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) for several years. She also advocated for LGBTQIA rights, thereby displaying her unwavering sense of responsibility towards people from all walks of life, and reflected her supreme sense of justice.
Legacy and Death
Justice Seth passed away at the age of 86 after suffering from a cardio-respiratory attack on 5 May 2017. She is survived by her husband and children; She is said to have donated her eyes and other organs for transplant or medical research purposes, which reflects her noble thinking.
Her legacy lives on through the works she poured her heart into throughout her life. Along with shattering the glass ceiling in the Indian judiciary , she also made significant contributions in overhauling India’s Rape laws, that became decadent over the years, and needed to be changed. Justice Seth was a part of the three member Justice Verma Commission formed after the brutal 2012 Delhi gang rape case to look into an overhaul of rape laws in India. This may have been one of her most impactful contributions to the Indian judicial system. Justice Seth was a beacon of hope for so many women who wanted to pursue law; she was a ray of inspiration for many young women aspiring to pursue law, and her noble character and sense of justice only added more feathers to her hat.
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FAQs on the First Woman Chief Justice of High Court
Who was the first woman Chief Justice of High Court in India?
Leila Seth was the first woman Chief Justice of High Court in India. She became the Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court in 1991 and redefined gender roles in Indian Judicial system.
Who was the first woman Chief Justice of India?
Leila Seth created a historic milestone by becoming the inaugural female Chief Justice of India, thereby demonstrating that women are fully capable of assuming significant leadership positions within the legal realm.
Who are the other notable women in the Indian legal scene?
Fathima Beevi, Indu Malhotra, Ruma Pal are the other notable names of women besides Leila Seth who made significant gender redefining contributions in the Indian judicial scene.
What are the other significant works undertaken by Leila Seth?
Leila Seth was a part of many enquiry commissions, investigating issues like custodial deaths, she was the chair of many judicial committees; She also advocated for daughter’s inheritance rights to the ancestral property and advocated for LGBTQIA rights.
When did Leila Seth become member of the London Bar Association?
Leila Seth joined the London Bar in 1959, after topping the London Bar Exam in 1958, becoming the first woman to do so.
When did Leila Seth become High Court Judge?
Leila Seth became a High Court Judge in 1978 when she was appointed as a judge in Delhi High Court.
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