Recently, senior advocate and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal has fervently asked the Collegium to begin naming women lawyers from law firms as judges in High Courts. Sibal made this remark in a discussion in the Supreme Court, where he claimed that equally, both male and female lawyers are not being elevated to the judiciary, and more inclusiveness and gender balance needs to be brought into the judicial system. Sibal said that many men who practiced in law firms had risen with ease to become judges in High Courts across the country, and there was no reason why women lawyers could not do the same-the women lawyers who showed exceptional skill and devoted service in the career of law. Further, Sibal said the appointments of women from the law firms to the judiciary would not only result in the much-needed permutation of representatives but also lead to different perspectives coming before the bench for the healthy and correct dispensation of justice. The Chief Justice of India should also look at phenomenal lady lawyers working in this court as well as they should be designated as High Court judges. It has happened with male lawyers why not women lawyers Sibal asked, while underlining that there is a need to adopt a proactive approach towards recognizing and promoting talented women in the legal profession. Sibal's comments assume significance, considering debates that have been floated on women's representation in the judiciary. Though over the last couple of years, some improvement has taken place, even today, women comprise only a small fraction of judges both in the High Courts and the Supreme Court. The bench's lack of gender diversity has been a point of concern for a long time from both lawyers and advocates of judicial reform, all of whom say that a more gender-representative bench is integral to any justice system that claims to represent the society it serves. Appointing women from law firms as judges will help solve the gender inequality problem afflicting the legal profession, Sibal said. The careers of women lawyers also face systemic obstacles, such as bias and discrimination that often deny them the opportunity for elevation to the senior level, let alone consideration for judicial appointment. Active consideration by the Collegium for appointment of qualified women from law firms will break this trend and set a precedent for the profession to be more inclusive. Though the demand for more women in the judiciary is not new, the sharp comments by Sibal have brought fresh focus on the issue. His appeal to the Collegium should remind all that the attainment of gender equality in the judiciary requires a conscious and sustained effort at recognizing and promoting the talents of women lawyers.