Who was the first woman lawyer from the Indian bar to be directly appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of India?

Introduction / Context:
This question is from Indian polity and legal current affairs, focusing on gender milestones in the higher judiciary. The Supreme Court of India has had several woman judges, but historically most were elevated from high courts. The question specifically asks about the first woman lawyer from the bar who was directly appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court, an important step in representation of women in the legal profession at the highest level.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The post is of a judge of the Supreme Court of India.
• The focus is on a woman lawyer who practised as an advocate before being elevated directly from the bar.
• Options include Indu Malhotra, Fathima Beevi, R. Banumathi, and Ruma Pal.
• Only one of these fits the description of first woman advocate directly from the bar to the Supreme Court bench.

Concept / Approach:
It is important to distinguish between the first woman judge of the Supreme Court and the first woman lawyer directly appointed from the bar. Justice Fathima Beevi was the first woman judge of the Supreme Court, but she was elevated from a high court. Justice Indu Malhotra, on the other hand, was a senior advocate of the Supreme Court who was appointed directly to the Supreme Court, becoming the first woman advocate to achieve this distinction. Understanding this difference helps avoid confusion between historic firsts.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Fathima Beevi is known as the first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India, but she reached the court via elevation from a high court position.Step 2: Note that the question is not asking for the first woman judge in general; it specifically mentions the first woman lawyer appointed directly from the bar.Step 3: Justice Indu Malhotra was a senior advocate who was directly elevated to the Supreme Court bench, making her the first woman advocate to be appointed in this manner.Step 4: R. Banumathi and Ruma Pal are also respected woman judges of the Supreme Court, but they were elevated through the high court route.Step 5: Based on these facts, select Indu Malhotra as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, remember news reports from the time of her appointment which emphasised that she was the first woman from the bar to be directly appointed as a Supreme Court judge. The reports clearly highlighted the difference between being the first woman judge of the Supreme Court and being the first woman advocate directly elevated from the bar. This consistently points to Justice Indu Malhotra as the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Fathima Beevi: She was the first woman judge of the Supreme Court but was appointed after serving as a high court judge, not directly from the bar.
• R. Banumathi: A Supreme Court judge with a background as a high court judge, not the first woman lawyer directly elevated from the bar.
• Ruma Pal: Another eminent judge who served in the Supreme Court, but again elevated from the high court and not directly from practice at the bar.

Common Pitfalls:
The main pitfall is confusing the phrase first woman judge of the Supreme Court with first woman lawyer appointed from the bar. Many aspirants remember only one name, Fathima Beevi, for any question about first woman in the Supreme Court, which can lead to wrong answers when the question is framed more specifically. Careful reading of the question and understanding the different paths of elevation are crucial.

Final Answer:
The first woman lawyer to be appointed directly from the bar as a judge of the Supreme Court of India was Indu Malhotra.