Justice M. Fathima Beevi, the trailblazing jurist who made history as the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of India, passed away at the age of 96. Born on April 30, 1927, in Kerala, she emerged as a trailblazer in the legal profession. Encouraged by her father to pursue law, she excelled in the field, topping the Bar Council exam in 1950 and becoming the first woman to receive a Bar Council gold medal.
Her illustrious career in law saw her rise from an advocate in Kerala to a district and sessions judge in 1974. In 1980, she joined the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, eventually earning an appointment as a High Court judge in 1983. The year 1989 marked a historic milestone when Justice M. Fathima Beevi became the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court, a position she held until her retirement on April 29, 1992. Following her retirement, she contributed to the National Human Rights Commission and later took on the role of Governor of Tamil Nadu.
Her tenure as Governor included a pivotal moment when she resigned after rejecting the mercy petitions of four condemned prisoners in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. Justice M. Fathima Beevi’s groundbreaking journey not only paved the way for women in the legal realm but also left an indelible mark on the Indian judiciary.
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