Context: Second annual survey on police, prisons, judiciary and legal aid, India Justice Report, released.

The report analysed expenditure, vacancies, representation of women and members of SC, ST and Other Backward Classes, across 18 large and mid-sized states with a population of over 1 crore and eight smaller states.

• The report was an initiative of Tata Trusts, along with the Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause, CHRI, DAKSH and TISS-Prayas and Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy.
• One in 4 cops in Bihar a woman, highest among states
• On diversity, Karnataka is the only state to meet its quotas for SC, ST and OBC in both officer cadre and constabulary.
• Chhattisgarh being the only other state that meets the diversity requirements for constabulary.
• Tamil Nadu, has the highest percentage of women police officers (24.8%) , followed by Mizoram (20.1%).
• The lack of representation of women as judges in high courts is high.
• Sikkim tops the list with 33.3 per cent women – Sikkim High Court has just three judges.
• Overall, only 29 per cent judges in HCs across the country are women, but no state except Sikkim has over 20 per cent women judges.
• Four states — Bihar, Uttarakhand, Tripura and Meghalaya — have no woman judge in its high courts.
• Despite the low figures, women’s representation has marginally increased in police, prisons and the judiciary, the report mentions.
• Women account for 10 per cent of all police personnel, up from 7 per cent in January 2017; 13 per cent prison staff (10% in December 2016); 29.3% of judges (26.5% in 2017-18).
• Overall, Maharashtra retained the top spot on delivery of justice to people among 18 large and mid-sized states, followed by Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Punjab and Kerala.
• The report also noted that an overwhelming two-thirds of all prisoners are undertrials awaiting a conviction.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-justice-report-2020-one-in-4-cops-in-bihar-a-woman-highest-among-states-report-7165809/

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