South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a regional network of human rights defenders conveys its profound condolences to the family of Leila Seth, the first woman justice of the Delhi High Court. It highly recognises the immense contribution made by Justice Seth, a genuine South Asian in spirit, to India as well as to the whole region.
Justice Seth set several high standards in the legal field for the women in the region by example: She topped the London Bar Examination; and was also the first female justice in Himachal Pradesh High Court. An ardent advocate of human rights, she was quite vocal on issues such as discrimination on sexual orientation and gender, rights of the marginalized and children as well as advocacy on awarding equal rights for daughters in joint family property. She was on the Justice J.S. Verma committee set up in 2012 to look into the amendments of criminal law against rape. She has several publications to her name advocating human rights.
Justice Seth led a fact finding mission to the Maldives conducted by SAHR in 2012, when the island nation was in dire need of regional and international support to safeguard democratic values and human rights of the citizens from further degeneration.
On behalf of the members of South Asians for Human Rights
Hina Jilani
Chairperson
Dr. Nimalka Fernando
Co-Chairperson