Leila Seth: The First Female Chief Justice of High Court
Leila Seth, the mother of acclaimed author Vikram Seth, made history as the first female Chief Justice of a High Court. She was initially appointed as a judge in the Delhi High Court and later served as Acting Chief Justice before becoming the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. Prior to her judicial career, Leila Seth practiced law for many years in various High Courts, as detailed in her autobiography ‘On Balance’.
Legal Practice in Patna High Court
In her narrative, Leila Seth recalls her early days of legal practice at the Patna High Court in 1958. She was one of the two female lawyers at the time, alongside Justice Main, while the renowned criminal lawyer Dharmshila Lal was also practicing. Despite facing challenges and scrutiny from fellow lawyers, Leila Seth established herself as a competent legal professional in a male-dominated field.
Encounters with Bats in the Courtroom
Leila Seth recounts the unique challenges she faced as a female lawyer, including the lack of proper facilities for women in the Patna High Court. The makeshift toilet facilities, shared with bats in a storage room, added to her struggles. Despite initial fears and discomfort, Leila Seth overcame these obstacles with the support of her colleagues and eventually found a solution to the unusual situation, highlighting her resilience and determination in the legal profession.
विक्रम सेठ की मां लीला सेठ हाईकोर्ट की पहली महिला चीफ जस्टिस थीं और पहले उन्हें दिल्ली हाईकोर्ट में जज नियुक्ति मिली थी। उन्होंने अपनी आत्मकथा में अपने वकालत के दिनों के किस्से साझा किए हैं, जैसे किसी दिन जब उन्होंने पटना हाईकोर्ट में वकालत की शुरुआत की और चमगादड़ों के साथ एक कमरे में बाथरूम के रूप में रहना पड़ा। उन्होंने यहां अपनी पहली प्रैक्टिस के दिनों की कठिनाइयों के बारे में भी साझा किया।
