23/06/2026
Justice B.V. Nagarathna: The Story Behind India's Expected First Woman Chief Justice..
Seventy-Seven Years. More Than Fifty Chief Justices. One Historic First.
For nearly 77 years, the Supreme Court of India has been the guardian of our Constitution.
More than fifty Chief Justices have led the institution.
Yet one milestone has remained unfulfilled.
India has never had a woman Chief Justice.
That is expected to change on 24 September 2027, when Justice B.V. Nagarathna is likely to assume office as the first woman Chief Justice of India, in keeping with the convention of seniority.
Interestingly, her tenure is expected to last just 36 days.
But history is rarely measured in days.
It is measured by the barriers that are broken.
Born on 30 October 1962 in Bengaluru, Justice Nagarathna is the daughter of Justice E.S. Venkataramiah, the 19th Chief Justice of India.
Yet she never relied on that legacy.
After studying History at Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi, and Law at the Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi, she enrolled with the Bar in 1987 and spent more than two decades in active legal practice before being elevated to the Karnataka High Court in 2008. She joined the Supreme Court in 2021.
Few people remember that before becoming a judge, she spent years understanding the justice delivery system from the advocate's side of the courtroom.
One lesson from her early years has always stood out.
Her father would often tell her:
"Finish tomorrow's work today. Never procrastinate. And always be present in court, because the absence of an advocate may prejudice a litigant's case."
Simple advice.
Yet every lawyer knows how profound those words are..
Justice Nagarathna has also demonstrated remarkable independence.
Her dissent in the Demonetisation case reaffirmed a timeless constitutional principle - that even the most significant executive decisions must remain subject to the rule of law.
She has also spoken candidly about the challenges women continue to face in the legal profession and the importance of institutional and family support in enabling more women to reach leadership positions.
History has an interesting way of coming full circle.
In 1989, Justice E.S. Venkataramiah served as the Chief Justice of India.
Nearly four decades later, his daughter is expected to occupy the very same office, making them the first father-daughter duo to serve as Chief Justice of India.
Her tenure may be one of the shortest.
Her legacy certainly won't be.
When future generations study the history of the Supreme Court of India, they may not remember that she served for 36 days.
They will remember that after 77 years, India finally had its first woman Chief Justice.
And that is a milestone that will inspire generations of lawyers, judges and law students to come.
History remembers those who break barriers..
