New Delhi: Senior lawyer Indu Malhotra has taken oath as Supreme Court judge and has become the seventh female judge in the 68 years of Supreme Court’s history.

Not only this, Malhotra is the first advocate to be elevated directly to the position of Supreme Court judge.

She took oath on Friday morning under Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.

Of its total 24 judges, Supreme Court has only one female judge R Bhanumati, at present.

Before Indu Malhotra, Supreme Court has had these female judges: Justice Fatima Biwi, Sujata Manohar, Ruma Pal, Gyan Sudha Mishra, Ranjana Desai and R Bhanumati. All of them were high court judges first and then went on to become Supreme Court judges, but Indu Malhotra is the first lady to become an SC judge right from an advocate.

Recommendation for Indu Malhotrea and Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court K M Joseph had been sent to government on January 11, but it was kept pending for three months, infuriating the SC judges.

Finally the government has agreed upon the name of Indu Malhotra and has sent back collegium’s recommendation for K M Joseph.

Senior advocate Indira Jaisingh had asked CJI to stop the appointment of Indu Malhotra. Her demand, however, was rejected.

The court said: “There have been many instances when 30 names are recommended for one high court and government selects only 22. 8 names are returned to the collegiums for reconsideration. Are you saying that for the 8 names, the appointment of the 22 other judges should be stopped?