First SC Woman Judge Justice Fathima Beevi Passes Away At 96

First woman judge of the Supreme Court and former Governor of Tamil Nadu, Justice Fathima Beevi passed away at the age 96 on Thursday.

First woman judge of the Supreme Court, Fathima Beevi passed away at the age of 96

Source : X/@a_abdullakutty

The first woman judge of the Supreme Court and former Governor of Tamil Nadu, Justice Fathima Beevi passed away at the age of 96 on Thursday, reported PTI quoting official sources as saying. Fathima breathed her last at a private hospital in Kerala's Kollam. State health minister Veena George expressed condolences on Justice Fathima's demise saying it was extremely painful. 

"She was a brave woman who had many records to her name. She was a personality who through her own life showed that willpower and a sense of purpose can overcome any adversity," George said in a statement.

Justice Fathima began her career in 1950 with the lower Judiciary of Kerala and soon rose through ranks serving as Munsiff in the Kerala Subordinate Judicial Services. 

She served as a Subordinate Judge, as a Chief Judicial Magistrate, as a District & Sessions Judge, and as a Judicial Member of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal.

In 1983, she become a High Court Judge, and was appointed as a Supreme Court Judge in 1989.

She also holds the title of the first Muslim woman Judge to be appointed to any Higher Judiciary, and holds the distinction of being the first woman Judge of a Supreme Court of a nation in Asia.

After her retirement from judiciary, Justice Fathima first served as a member of the National Human Rights Commission and then was appointed the Governor of Tamil Nadu. 

Justice Fathima was also appointed as the Chancellor of Tamil Nadu University during her tenure as Tamil Nadu Governor and was conferred with Hon. D. Litt and Mahila Shiromani Award in 1990.

She completed her Bachelor of Law Degree from the Government Law College, and enrolled as an Advocate on 14thNovember, 1950. 

Hailing from Pandalam in Kerala, Justice Beevi completed her schooling at the Catholicate High School in Pathanamthitta, before acquiring her Degree in Bachelor of Science from University College, Trivandrum.