India, Nov. 11 -- Justice BV Nagarathna has introduced a gender dimension to the conversation on political and social equality. While hearing a petition seeking a directive from the Supreme Court on women's reservation in Parliament and state assemblies, she drew attention to the fact that women constitute the largest minority in the country, while clarifying that enforcement of the law is the executive's responsibility.

Justice Nagarathna, in line to be the first woman chief justice of India in September 2027, is right. Women make up almost 48% of the population, and, collectively, face discrimination that many social minorities do, particularly the lack of proportionate representation in public bodies, including in the judiciary. For i...