In 1989, Justice M Fathima Beevi was appointed as the first Indian woman Supreme Court judge the age of 62. This was a defining moment in the country's judicial history. She shattered barriers at a time when the role of women in the legal profession was still being questioned. Her legacy extends far beyond the Supreme Court, as she was also the first woman member of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal and Kerala’s first High Court woman judge.
Born on April 30, 1927 in Pathanamthitta, Kerala, Fathima Beevi was the eldest daughter of Meera Sahib and Khadeeja Beevi. She grew up in a family that valued education, despite societal norms restricting women’s academic and professional aspirations, particularly within the Muslim community. Her father encouraged his daughters to pursue careers that contributed to society.
Fathima Beevi excelled academically, and was a gold medallist in BSc Chemistry from University College, Thiruvananthapuram. While she wished to pursue a master’s degree, her father was resolute that she study law instead. Reluctantly, she joined Thiruvananthapuram Law College and soon realised her passionfor the legal profession.
On 14 November 1950, she enrolled in the Bar Council, topping the Bar Council exam and becoming the first woman to achieve this honour.
Legal Career
Justice Fathima Beevi’s career is a testament to her legal acumen and determination. She joined the Kerala Subordinate Judicial Services in 1958 as a Munsiff in Thrissur.
In 1980, she was appointed as a Judicial Member of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in Ernakulam, marking another milestone in her career. She made history yet again in 1983 when she was elevated as a Judge of the Kerala High Court. On March 14, 1984, she became a permanent High Court judge.
The pinnacle of her legal career was on October 6, 1989, when she became the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India. She was also the first Muslim woman in the higher judiciary and the first woman Supreme Court judge in any Asian country.
Post-Retirement
After retiring from the Supreme Court on April 29, 1992, Justice Fathima Beevi continued to contribute to society. In 1993, she was appointed a member of the National Human Rights Commission and later became Chairperson of the Kerala Commission for Backward Classes.
On January 25, 1997, she took on the role of Governor of Tamil Nadu.
Despite breaking the glass ceiling, she often expressed disappointment that not enough women had followed in her footsteps in the judiciary.
Justice Fathima Beevi remained an embodiment of female empowerment throughout her life. Known for her simplicity, she always dressed in white sarees with coloured zari borders, draping the loose end over her head instead of wearing a hijab. A fiercely independent woman, she never married, stating that she never felt the need for a 'better half.'
Her remarkable journey came to an end on November 23, 2023, when she passed away at the age of 96.