The Madras High Court has got its first woman mace-bearer. Chobdars or mace bearers are in the lowest cadre. It is the first time in the history of the High Court that a woman has been appointed to the post of Chobdar. Their primary duty is to carry maces before High Court judges.
Justice R.N. Manjula is the first judge of the Madras High Court to utilise the services of a woman chobdar. The uniform that the woman chobdar has to wear is a white salwar kameez with a dupatta, waist band and a cap.
The mace has a significance in the history of the High Court since its presence outside a judge’s chamber indicates his presence inside the chamber. The duty of the mace bearer is to ensure free passage for the judges when they walk to and fro from their chambers to the court halls and vice versa.
