Fathima Beevi, 96, First Female Judge of SC, Passes Away
Fathima Beevi, the trailblazing figure who made history as the first female judge of the Supreme Court of India and later served as the Governor of Tamil Nadu, passed away at the age of 96. She breathed her last at a private hospital in Kollam.
Born in Pathanamthitta district, Fathima Beevi achieved several milestones in her illustrious career. She earned a BSc degree in chemistry from the University of Kerala and later pursued law at the Government Law College, Ernakulam. Graduating in law, she became the first woman in Kerala to hold a law degree.
Starting her career as a lawyer in 1950, Fathima Beevi went on to serve as a Chief Judicial Magistrate and Judicial Member of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal. In 1983, she was appointed as a judge of the Kerala High Court.
In 1989, Fathima Beevi scripted history by becoming the first female judge of the Supreme Court of India. Notably, she was also the first Muslim woman appointed to any of the higher judiciaries in the country. Her tenure in the apex court lasted until 1992.
Following her judicial career, she took on the role of the Governor of Tamil Nadu in 1997, making her the first Muslim woman to hold this position. Her term continued until 2001. Besides her contributions to the legal and political spheres, Fathima Beevi was actively engaged in social activism and philanthropy, particularly focused on women’s empowerment.
Throughout her distinguished career, Fathima Beevi received numerous accolades and honours, recognizing her significant contributions. Her life was the subject of a documentary titled “Neethipathayile Dheera Vanitha” (A brave woman on the path of justice), released in 2023.
While Fathima Beevi’s achievements are widely celebrated, her career was not without controversy. Despite this, she remains an iconic figure who broke barriers and paved the way for women in the field of law and governance in India.
