When justice V Mohana took the oath as a judge of the Supreme Court of India on 2 June 2026, it was more than a personal milestone. It was the culmination of nearly four decades of perseverance, hard work and faith in the legal profession.
Her elevation marked a rare moment in Indian judicial history. She became only the second woman advocate ever to be appointed directly from the bar to the Supreme Court, following the path carved by justice Indu Malhotra in 2018. At the same time, she became the 12th woman to serve on the apex court bench since the country's independence.
For many young lawyers — particularly women entering a profession long dominated by men — her appointment sends a powerful message: talent, dedication and persistence can eventually overcome even the highest barriers.
A First-generation Lawyer with Big Dreams
Justice Mohana's story did not begin in the corridors of Delhi's power centres. Born in Chennai in 1966, she entered the legal profession without a family legacy to lean on. She was a first-generation lawyer, charting her own course in a profession where connections often matter as much as credentials.
After graduating from Coimbatore Law College in 1988 as part of India's first batch of the five-year law programme, she began her career in Coimbatore. In the early days, she joined the chamber of advocate M Panchapakesan, where she was the only woman lawyer.
Those years were not always easy. Women lawyers were far fewer in number than they are today, and opportunities at the higher levels of the profession were often difficult to access. Yet, she persisted.
A turning point came in 1992 when she moved to New Delhi in search of broader opportunities. There, she worked with advocate Indu Malhotra, who would later become the first woman lawyer to be directly elevated to the Supreme Court.
It is one of those rare twists of fate that decades later, justice Mohana would follow the very path her former senior had pioneered.
Building a Reputation One Case at a Time
After spending a year with Indu Malhotra, justice Mohana joined the chambers of senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan, one of the country's most respected legal practitioners.
In 1996, she cleared the highly competitive Advocate-on-Record examination, enabling her to file and conduct cases independently before the Supreme Court. From there, she steadily built a reputation for thorough preparation, sharp advocacy and a deep understanding of constitutional and civil law.
Over the years, she appeared before the Supreme Court, the Delhi High Court and numerous tribunals, handling a wide range of matters spanning constitutional, civil and criminal law.
Her legal career was marked not just by high-profile appearances but also by her willingness to engage with issues that affected ordinary citizens.
In 2015, the Supreme Court designated her a senior advocate, recognising her standing and contribution to the profession.
Championing Causes beyond the Courtroom
Among the many cases associated with justice Mohana, one stands out for its wider social impact.
She was part of the legal battle that ultimately secured permanent commissions for women officers in the Indian Army, a landmark judgement that expanded opportunities for women in the armed forces and reinforced the constitutional promise of equality.
Her legal work also touched other significant issues, including senior citizens' rights, constitutional questions and matters involving personal freedoms.
Those who have followed her career often describe her as a lawyer who combined technical legal expertise with a keen understanding of how court decisions affect people's lives.
That balance between legal principle and human consequence is likely to shape her work on the bench as well.
A Rare Path to the Top
Most Supreme Court judges spend years serving as High Court judges before reaching the apex court. Direct appointments from the Bar are extraordinarily uncommon.
The Constitution permits distinguished advocates with at least ten years of practice to be appointed directly to the Supreme Court. Yet, the provision has been used sparingly.
In the Court's 76-year history, only a handful of judges have taken this route. Justice Mohana now joins an exclusive group that includes legal luminaries such as justices SM Sikri, Rohinton Nariman, UU Lalit, L Nageswara Rao, Indu Malhotra, PS Narasimha and KV Viswanathan.
Her appointment makes her just the 11th person to be elevated directly from the bar to the Supreme Court.
The distinction reflects not only professional excellence but also the trust placed in advocates who have spent decades understanding the law from the perspective of those arguing before the courts.
A Milestone for Women's Representation
Justice Mohana's elevation arrives at a time when conversations about gender representation in the judiciary have become increasingly important.
Although the number of women entering law schools and legal practice has risen significantly over the past decade, representation in constitutional courts remains limited.
Only a small number of women have ever served on the Supreme Court bench. Her appointment adds another chapter to that evolving story.
Representation alone cannot solve every challenge facing women in the legal profession. But visible role models matter. They inspire confidence, challenge old assumptions and widen the horizon of what younger generations believe is possible.
For a young woman beginning her legal career today, seeing another woman take her place on the country's highest court is a reminder that the path, while difficult, is open.
The Next Chapter
Justice Mohana joins the Supreme Court alongside four High Court chief justices, taking the Court's working strength to 37 judges.
Unlike some judges who arrive at the apex court close to retirement, she is expected to have a tenure of nearly five years and will retire in June 2031. That gives her ample time to leave a meaningful mark on Indian jurisprudence.
As she takes her seat on the bench, her journey stands as a testament to persistence and professional excellence. From being the lone woman in a lawyer's chamber in Coimbatore to becoming one of the country's highest constitutional authorities, justice V Mohana's story is not just about individual success.
It is about how determination, patience and an unwavering commitment to the law can open doors once thought unreachable.
And for countless aspiring lawyers watching from courtrooms, law colleges and chambers across India, it is proof that history is still being written — and sometimes, one determined advocate gets to write a part of it herself.
