Fathima Beevi: India's First Woman Supreme Court Judge Leaves a Trailblazing Legacy

Condolences are pouring in as the nation mourns the passing of Fathima Beevi, India’s first woman Supreme Court judge, who died at the age of 96 in a private hospital in Kerala this morning.

In addition to her role as the Supreme Court Justice, M Fathima Beevi also served as Governor of Tamil Nadu and a member of the National Human Rights Commission. She was also the first Muslim woman judge in any higher judiciary

Born in Pandalam, Kerala in 1927, Justice Beevi finished her schooling at Catholicate High School in Pathanamthitta and later obtained her law degree from Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram.

She topped the Bar Council exam in 1950 and became the first woman to receive a Bar Council gold medal. 

Beevi started her journey as an advocate in the lower Judiciary of Kerala in 1950 and then climbed the ladder and swiftly progressed through the ranks of Munsiff in the Kerala Subordinate Judicial Services, Subordinate Judge, Chief Judicial Magistrate, District and Session Judge, and Judicial Member of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal.

In 1983, Beevi was appointed as the High Court judge in 1983 and then further elevated to the Supreme Court level in 1989. Following her retirement she was appointed as the Governor of Tamil Nadu and later also served as a member of the National Human Rights Commission.

In a 2016 interview with The Week, she was asked if the Indian judiciary is biased towards men. She firmly replied, "Absolutely, no doubt about that."

She further added, “There are many women in the field now, both at the bar and in the bench. However, their participation is meagre. Their representation is not equal to men. There is a historical reason also for that… Women took to the field late. It will take time for women to get equal representation in the judiciary. When I went to Law College, there were only five girls in my class in the first year. The number went down to two or three in the second year. Today, in law colleges, we are seeing that a good percentage of the students are women.”

Kerala Health Minister Veena George expressed her condolences and said in a statement, “She was a brave woman who had many records to her name. She was a personality who through her own life showed that willpower and a sense of purpose can overcome any adversity.”

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi took to X, “Deeply saddened at the passing away of Justice M Fathima Beevi, former Governor Tamil Nadu. Her contributions to public service will always be remembered. My thoughts are with her family members in this sorrowful hour. May she rest in peace.” 

Apart from her illustrious career, Fathima Beevi was a dedicated social activist and philanthropist, actively engaging in numerous women's organisations and advocating for women's empowerment.

The former Supreme Court justice was awarded the Bharat Jyoti Award and the US-India Business Council (USIBC) Lifetime Achievement Award for her stellar contribution to the legal and public service sector.

Fathima Beevi’s historic journey marked by significant milestones not only made her a pioneer in her field but also paved the way for countless women to follow in her footsteps.