Lakshmi Bai Patil

First female judge of India's Supreme Court, breaking gender barriers in legal profession

Lakshmi Bai Patil (1927-2006) was a pioneering Indian jurist who became the first woman to serve as a judge in India's Supreme Court. Born in a conservative Marathi Brahmin family in Kolhapur, she defied societal norms by pursuing legal education at Government Law College, Mumbai. After gaining prominence through her work in constitutional law, she was appointed as Additional Solicitor General of India in 1963. Her historic elevation to the Supreme Court bench in 1972 marked a watershed moment for women's participation in India's judiciary. Throughout her career, she championed gender equality through landmark rulings such as the Shanta Devi v. Emperor case which redefined women's property rights. Her memoir My Journey Through Law (1985) remains a seminal text on legal feminism in India. Patil's legacy continues through the Lakshmi Bai Patil National Law University established in 2008, which focuses on gender justice education.