'Only 3% of HC judges are from SC/STs': India Justice Report 2025 highlights widening gap in representation

In a country as vast and diverse as India, hundreds of castes, multiple religions, and every imaginable economic background, the idea of fairness rests heavily on the shoulders of the judiciary. But there's a question that's been quietly growing louder: do those who deliver justice truly reflect the people they serve?
 
The India Justice Report 2025 gives a sobering answer to this question. As per the report,  the promise of representation both in India’s police and judiciary systems remains largely unfulfilled. From gender disparity to caste-based exclusions, the Indian system is way short in ensuring inclusivity, which is not only a constitutional commitment but a necessity for a better society. From police force to courtrooms, the promise of better representation for women, dalits, adivasis, and other marginalised communities remains largely unfulfilled.
 
The judiciary, often hailed as the third pillar of Indian democracy, is sadly homogeneous. Though the number of women judges in subordinate courts has improved with time, their number remains disappointingly low in higher courts. The report highlights that women contribute up to 37.4% of all judges, including 38% in lower courts, and only 14% in high courts. Between 2022 and 2025, gender diversity increased by a mere 1% in High Courts and 3% in lower courts. Gujarat is the only state to have more women at its high court (25%) than in its subordinate courts (20%) since 2022. The High Courts of Meghalaya, Tripura, and Uttarakhand record no women on their benches, but register a high share of women in their subordinate courts. Leadership roles continue to be dominated by men from dominant castes, with only rare exceptions.
 
When it comes to caste representation, the scenario is even more disheartening. The report highlights the unavailability of any state-wise data on caste diversity in the high courts. However, parliamentary responses show that, out of 698 high court judges appointed since 2018, 22 are from SCs, 15 belong to STs, 87 come from OBCs, and 37 were from other minority communities. Apart from Karnataka, with Tamil Nadu being the second, no state or Union territory fulfills its SC, ST, and OBC quota, and only 10 States and UTs meet the reservation up to 50%. Telangana, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand met their ST quotas while Gujarat and Odisha could only fill 2 per cent.
 
Persons with disabilities, who are legally entitled to a 4% reservation under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD), are almost invisible across the judicial spectrum, which marks a striking violation of not just law, but ethics as well.
 
The police are often the first point of contact for citizens seeking justice, and hence it becomes even more important to provide representation to the marginalised, both a statutory requirement and a democratic priority when policing a society as varied as India. Multiple Ministry of Home Affairs advisories have recommended three women Sub-Inspectors (SI) and 10 women constables in each police station. With little change over 2022, except Delhi, no state/UT meets this benchmark for SIs as the average SIs remains 0.7 only, highlighting the unavailability of even a single woman at mainly stations. In terms of constables, the average is better, which is 10.9.
 
The report not only highlights the under-representation of women but also points towards the lack of gender-sensitive infrastructure, such as separate restrooms or working spaces. It’s not enough to just hire women in the police force, but it’s also about creating an environment where they can work and bring the change society needs.
 
Caste-based reservation in the police shows a similar pattern of neglect and disregard. While SCs, STs, and OBCs are constitutionally entitled to specific quotas, their actual implementation varies widely across states. Karnataka tops as the only state in the country to meet its SC, ST, and OBC quotas in the police. In most states, caste-based representation is limited to the lower ranks, while higher-level posts remain highly dominated by upper-caste men. This imbalance hinders the ability of the system to empathise and address the lived realities of the communities it serves.

India