Debate For Women's Reservation In Judiciary Undermines Merit Of Judges Like Justice CS Sudha: KHCAA President

During the farewell reference function organized at the high court, Justice Sudha stated that she bids farewell to Kerala High Court with mixed emotions; happy and content, but with a tinge of sadness.

Remembering her late parents and husband, she added, “I am sure they are all wishing me well from the heavens above.”

Expressing gratitude to her staff, she said, “My team stepped in as my family in the absence of my own here. They arranged surprise celebrations and supported me every day.” Concluding her speech with the lines of Robert Frost, she said:

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep…”

Chief Justice A.J. Nitin Jamdar, in his address, praised Justice Sudha for her “meticulousness with humane and compassionate approach” and her “significant contributions on the administrative side” of the Court.

“The transfer of Justice Sudha will indeed be a loss to the Kerala High Court,” he said, “but the Delhi High Court will now be the beneficiary of her wisdom, experience, and judicial temperament.” he added.

Gopalakrishna Kurup, Advocate General of Kerala described the day as one filled with “a tinge of poignant feeling,” as the legal fraternity gathered to extend their wishes to “a prominent member of our judicial fraternity.”

He noted that Justice Sudha's tenure of nearly four years on the Kerala High Court Bench had left “an enduring and illustrious imprint upon both the Bar and Bench,” citing her “steadfast commitment to justice, sharp comprehension of law, and resolute dedication to uphold the rule of law.”

Reflecting on her formative years, Kurup recalled Justice Sudha's own words about her parents: “My father taught me to aim for the stars and my mother taught me to keep my feet firmly on the ground.”

He also remembered her early legal career under the mentorship of late Poovachal Sadasivan Nair, who recognized her skills and entrusted her with complex civil cases early on. Justice Sudha later became the second junior of late Nair to be elevated to the Kerala High Court, following Justice Padmanabhan Nair.

Kurup highlighted Justice Sudha's significant judgments across diverse branches of law, including her rulings on maternity benefits, mental health, matrimonial disputes, transgender rights, and media trials. “Your Ladyship's judicial philosophy embodies a rare equilibrium between precision of legal reasoning and empathy of human understanding,” he said.

Yeshwant Shenoy, President of the Kerala High Court Advocates' Association, lauded Justice Sudha's “quiet determination, intellectual rigour, and service.”

“Every elevation, transfer, and retirement of a woman judge often triggers a debate on women in Judiciary and the need for women's reservation. Personally, I find it demeaning as it undermines the abilities of those women who have strived hard to achieve success. Justice Sudha did not need any reservations and she has reached place solely through her hard work and determination.” he added.

He added that he hopes the Delhi High Court provides her with “a larger canvas to showcase her judicial acumen and creativity,” adding that she has the potential to be one of the finest judges in India.

Justice Sudha commenced her practice at the District Court, Thiruvananthapuram and entered the Judicial service in the year 1995 after securing first rank in the selection process. She has served in various capacities as Munsiff-Magistrate and Sub Judge/Asst.Sessions Judge.

She has served as Registrar, Cyber Appellate Tribunal, in Delhi and thereafter as Assistant Controller of Investigation, O/o the Controller of Certifying Authority, Ministry of Communication & Information Technology, Govt. of India, in Delhi, during 2010-2011 and was then promoted as District & Sessions Judge in 2012.

She was also appointed on deputation as the Registrar of Competition Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi and the Registrar, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi. She was also appointed as Additional Director, Kerala Judicial Academy.

She was sworn in as Additional Judge of the Kerala High Court in 2021 and later appointed as permanent Judge in 2023.