Chief Justice of India SA Bobde on Thursday revealed that High Court Chief Justices have often informed him that women lawyers have refrained from taking up judgeship citing domestic and parental responsibilities.

The CJI said that it is high time a woman occupies the post of Chief Justice of India but many a time Collegium was faced with difficulties because women lawyers refused to accept judgeship.

"Time has come for a woman Chief Justice of India. (But) Chief Justice of High Courts stated that when lawyers are asked to come on the bench they deny saying they have domestic responsibility or their children are in class 11 or 12 and thus these things have been communicated to me," CJI said.

The Bench which also comprised Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Surya Kant was hearing a plea regarding appointment of judges to the High Courts.

In this regard, a plea was filed by Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association (SCWLA) to urgently consider elevating experienced women lawyers from Supreme Court as High Courts judges, as a measure to increase the number of women judges.

The Bench stated that it "has the best interest of women in mind" but "we need only capable candidates," observed the CJI, refusing to issue notice in the matter.

In the main matter, the Bench was informed by Attorney General KK Venugopal that a decision with regard to names of ten judges recommended by Supreme Court collegium for high courts and pending with the Law Ministry, will be communicated to the top court within three months.

The top court then proceeded to directed the Central government to furnish a timeline to respond to Supreme Court collegium recommendations especially with regard to clearance from the Department of Justice.