COVER STORY
JUSTICE R. BANUMATHI
Judge, Supreme Court of India
J
ustice R. Banumathi is not only highly
qualified and experienced but also is
an empathetic judge known for her fair
judgments.
Currently, a Judge of the Supreme Court of
India, Justice Banumathi has earlier served
as Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court.
Her long, professional journey commenced in
1988, when she joined the Tamil Nadu Higher
Judicial Service as a direct recruit District
Judge.
As a Sessions Judge, she dealt with a number
of landmark cases that are applauded even
today in Tamil Nadu and headed a one-person
commission on police excesses by STF in
Chinnampathy village, Coimbatore district, in
1995-1996. Her work sought recognition, and
she was elevated as Judge of the Madras High
Court in 2003.
In November 2013, she was not only
transferred to the Jharkhand High Court but
also appointed as the Chief Justice of that
court. As Chief Justice, she dealt with many
important cases, including a ban on Jallikattu
or the bull-hugging sport. Justice Banumathi
banned Jallikattu stating that the act was a
cruelty to the animal more than it posing a
threat to humans. The verdict paved the
way for formulating regulations relating to
Jallikattu.
In August 2014, Justice Banumathi stepped
up to becoming Judge at the Supreme Court
of India, after her name was recommended
for the post by then Chief Justice of India
Rajendra Mal Lodha. She is the second woman
Sessions Judge to rise to the country’s highest
court.
Her judgment and contribution to the Nirbhaya
gang-rape case are much remembered where
a 113-page judgment was passed against
the accused, firmly standing the grounds for
severe punishment to the convicts.
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