Correct Answer :   Leila Seth

Leila Seth (20 October 1930 – 5 May 2017) was an Indian judge who served as the first woman judge on the Delhi High Court and became the first woman to become Chief Justice of a state High Court, Himachal Pradesh High Court, on 5 August 1991.

* She was also the first woman to be designated as a senior counsel by the Supreme Court of India.

* She sat on a number of enquiry commissions, including one into the death of 'Biscuit Baron' Rajan Pillai, and was also a part of the three-member bench of the Justice Verma Committee that was established to overhaul India's rape laws in the aftermath of the infamous 2012 Delhi gang-rape case.

* She was a member of the 15th Law Commission of India from 1997 to 2000, and was responsible for the amendments to the Hindu Succession Act that gave equal rights to daughters in joint family property.

Marriage Life and Education :

* In Kolkata, Leila Seth met her future husband, Prem Seth, leading to what to she termed a ‘semi-arranged’ marriage. The couple’s move to London provided her with an opportunity to pursue her interest in law.

* Her motivation was driven by the flexibility the field offered, essential for her as a young mother. Remarkably in 1958, at the age of 27, Seth secured the top spot in the London Bar exam, a ground-breaking achievement for a woman.


Legal Career of Leila Seth :

* Upon returning to India, Leila Seth started her legal journey in Patna. Despite facing gender bias and scepticism, she fearlessly tackled a range of cases, spanning taxation, constitutional matters and public interest litigations.

* Her tenacity led her to the Delhi High Court, where she shattered the glass ceiling and became the first woman judge in 1978. This achievement marked a pivotal step towards her trailblazing role in the Indian judiciary.