The judge who could become the first woman Chief Justice of India: Who is Justice BV Nagarathna?

Pursuant to the confirmation of her appointment as a Supreme Court judge, Justice BV Nagarathna will become the first woman Chief Justice of India, in 2027..Justice Nagarathna will follow in the footsteps of her father, Justice ES Venkataramiah, who was also a Chief Justice of India..Justice Nagarathna did her schooling at Sophia High School, Bangalore (till Xth Standard) and, thereafter, at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan’s Mehta Vidyalay, New Delhi. She completed a History Honours programme at Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University before pursuing law at the Campus Law Centre, New Delhi..She started her practice in 1987 at KESVY and Co under her seniors, Barrister Vasudev Reddy and Senior Advocate GV Shantharaju. KESVY and Co also has the distinction of being the chamber of her father, and Justice Rajendra Babu, both of whom served as Chief Justices of India..From 1994, Justice Nagarathna went on to practice independently. Her areas of legal practice included arbitration; land acquisition; service law; family law; administrative law; constitutional law; and commercial law before trial courts, High Courts and the Supreme Court. She represented the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority and served as an Amicus in several cases, including matters involving the rejuvenation of lakes in the city of Bangalore..She was appointed as an additional judge of the Karnataka High Court on February 18, 2008 and she was made a permanent judge on February 17, 2010. .On August 17 this year, the Supreme Court Collegium approved her elevation to the top court, paving the way to her appointment as the first woman Chief Justice of India. Her appointment as Supreme Court Judge was green-lit by the Central government today. Justice Nagarathna's tenure as CJI, however, will last only for a month and five days or 36 days to be precise..Shattering the judiciary's glass ceiling: Who are the three women judges recommended for elevation to the Supreme Court?.She is one of three women elevated to the Supreme Court in the latest round of appointments..If government clears August 17 Collegium recommendations, country will get its first woman Chief Justice of India but with a tenure of 36 days .Noteworthy judgments and ordersShe held that the lapse of acquisition under Section 24(2) of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 is not applicable to State acts such as BDA, KHB, and KIADB Act. A Bench headed by Justice Nagarathna held that Section 5 of the Limitation Act does not apply to the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 since “the special statute having a specific provision regarding limitation period would prevail over the Limitation Act, which is a general law and hence, Section 5 of the Limitation Act is not applicable to Section 74(1) of the 2013 Act as it prescribes a specific period of limitation different from what is prescribed under Article 116 of the Schedule to the Limitation Act.” She was part of the Bench that struck down a rule mandating that 85% of the packaging of a tobacco product must display pictorial health warnings, although the ruling was later stayed by the Supreme Court. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she sat with Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka, who has also been elevated to the Supreme Court, till July 2020, to deal with various pandemic-related issues. The issues taken up included the transportation and welfare of stranded migrant workers, opening of stores supplying essentials; creating a helpline for reporting domestic violence and a helpline for mental health counselling; relief for transgender persons etc. She was also part of the Bench that issued directions to bridge the digital divide and ensure children have access to online classes amid the pandemic. Notably, she was also part of the first Bench to hear matters virtually. She was part of a Bench that ruled that while there may be illegitimate parents, there cannot be illegitimate children and that law should, therefore, recognize the latter and confer them equal protection and rights. She was part of the Full Bench that ruled that persons detained under the Goondas Act can file a second writ petition on new grounds. In 2019, a Bench headed by Justice Nagarathna ruled that a temple is not a "commercial establishment." She was part of the Bench that confirmed a Single Judge ruling that struck down the imposition of life time tax on motor vehicles. Earlier this year, a Bench led by Justice Nagarathna ruled that cardamom, coffee, pepper, rubber and tea plantations do not fall within the purview of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Interest (SARFAESI) Act. The judge permitted the government to seek global tenders for the revival of Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), which was later upheld by the Supreme Court. She was also part of the Bench which stayed the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Amendment Act, 2020, by which 25% reservation had been introduced for students domiciled in the State. In 2020, she also rendered a judgment elucidating on the concept of shared parenting in cases where the parents of children are separated. She observed that, “It is necessary to remind ourselves that a child requires both parents, the mother and the father in jointly bringing up the child which would have a holistic impact on the overall growth of the child.” She headed the Bench monitoring effective implementation of the SUCHI scheme to ensure supply of menstrual hygiene products to school girls. She also headed the Bench monitoring the revamping of public schools, in the course of which she also directed intervention by experts such those at NLSIU's Center for Child and Law. A Bench led by Justice Nagarathna has also ruled that delay will not entitle a person accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to bail. In the same case, directions were also issued to set up special courts for POCSO cases, among other reforms. Ours is still a patriarchal society which does not know how to treat an empowered woman, she orally observed recently while hearing a joint divorce case. .On the administrative side as well, Justice Nagarathna has made several contributions, including:While at the Karnataka High Court, as an Administrative Judge of the City Civil Court Bangalore, she approved the establishment of a creche in the City Civil Court Complex Bangalore for children of staff and advocates, which is to be inaugurated soon. As Chairperson of the High Court Buildings Committee, she approved the installation of a sanitary pad vending machine in the High Court premises for the use of women advocates, litigants, and staff. As President of the Judicial Academy, she introduced for the first time training modules for trial judges on Gender and the Law; Child and the Law; and Environmental Law. She has also contributed to the chapter on the Karnataka High Court in a book on "Courts of India" which was released by the Supreme Court. Further, she was the Chairperson of the Committee in charge of bringing out a Kannada translation of the book. She has further served as Chairperson of the Committee Overseeing Commercial Court, Chairperson of the Juvenile Justice Committee and as Chairperson of the Committee overseeing the implementation of the POCSO Act..She is married to BN Gopala Krishna. The couple have two daughters - Nayantara BG, who is an advocate, and Prerna BG..[Read Notification appointing Justice BV Nagarathna as Supreme Court Judge]