Outstanding Women Lawyers | 2022

 

Although everyone agrees that change is the only constant, everybody finds it hard to adopt the change easily, even if that change is positive. In the United Kingdom, over a hundred years ago, that is on 6^th February 1918, women were allowed to vote after the passing of the Representation of People Act. It paved the way for enhanced women’s participation in society. Similarly, in 1919, first time in western history women could become solicitors after the royal approval of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act.

However, the same British Colonial Government has to face women’s suffrage movements in India during 1918 – 1929 that all British Provinces and Princely states could grant women the right to vote, and in the limited case allowed them to participate in the local election by standing as a candidate. Likewise, in 1923, the then government had to pass the Legal Practitioners (Women) Act which removed women’s disqualification on the only basis of sex or gender, stating in its affirmation that henceforth no woman will be disqualified from entering into the legal profession because they were of different sex or gender than men. It further stated that women could admit or enroll themselves as legal practitioners and pursue legal professions in the Indian judiciary.

This was the victory of a Bengali Lady, Regina Guha – of Jewish Bengali Ancestry – who after getting her MA degree in 1913, and a Bachelor of Law degree from Calcutta University in 1916, admitted an application to be allowed in the District Judge’s court of Alipore as a pleader. It was the first ‘person case – women to be qualified as persons just like men and not their property’ in India. Regina’s application was then forwarded to the Calcutta High Court.

Although Regina lost the case, only in the next year did Sudhanshubala Hazra submit a second ‘person case’ in September 1917. Although rejected first-time Hazra filed the application again in February 1918, that as a Bengalee Woman by nationality she has every right to appear in the examination, which was finally given to her by the Calcutta University. Thus, Hazra passed her pre-law exam in 1919, and intermediate law exam in 1920. Again, after passing those exams Hazra had to fight just like Regina to gain admittance to the court to act as a lawyer which was denied.

However, all these historic events paved the further battles, and in 1923 when The Legal Practitioners (Women) Act was passed in the UK, Hazra with widespread praises and salutations could now become British India’s first Vakil of the Patna High Court.

Insights Success’s latest edition of ‘Outstanding Women Lawyers 2022’ praises, salutes, and celebrates Modern women lawyers’ courage and daring akin to that of Regina and Hazra.

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