India's First Woman Supreme Court Justice Fathima Beevi Passes Away at 96

Hyderabad: Justice Fathima Beevi, the inaugural female Supreme Court judge, passed away at a private hospital in Kollam, Kerala, at the age of 96. Her historic appointment as the first woman on the Supreme Court served as an inspiration for women entering the legal profession and stood as a symbol of gender justice.

In addition to her judicial career, Justice Beevi held the position of Governor of Tamil Nadu from 1997 to 2001. Notably, she resigned from the role after rejecting mercy petitions from four individuals involved in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

Born in Pathanamthitta in 1927, she earned her undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Women’s College in Thiruvananthapuram and pursued LLB at a government law college in the same city. Graduating as a gold medallist, Justice Beevi commenced her legal career at Kollam district court in 1950. After eight years, she transitioned to the judicial service, eventually becoming the district sessions judge in 1974.

Appointed as a judge of the Kerala High Court in 1983, Justice Beevi reached the pinnacle of her career when she was elevated to the Supreme Court in 1989. Following her retirement in 1993, she contributed to the National Human Rights Commission and later served as the governor of Tamil Nadu.