In first, Supreme Court to have three female judges with Indira Banerjee's elevation 

Madras High Court Chief Justice Indira Banerjee's elevation to the Supreme Court is a welcome news. For the first time, the top court will have three female judges. Banerjee is set to join Justice Indu Malhotra and Justice R Banumathi.

Her appointment also translates to the Supreme Court getting its eighth woman judge. Fathima Beevi, Sujata V Manohar, Ruma Pal, Gyan Sudha Misra, Ranjana Prakash Desai, R Banumathi were previously appointed to the office besides recently elevated Indu Malhotra. Justice R Banumathi was appointed as the apex court judge in the year 2014.

Banerjee is also the second woman to head Madras High Court, after Justice Kanta Kumari Bhatnagar. 

A notification that was issued on Friday stated, "In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Kumari Justice Indira Banerjee, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, to be a judge of the Supreme Court of India with effect from the date she assumes charge of her office."

Banerjee assumed charge as the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court on April 5, 2017. She succeeded Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, who was then elevated to the top court.

The Supreme Court got its first woman judge in the year 1989. M Fathima Beevi, former Tamil Nadu Governor, was elevated to the post.