Senior lawyer Indu Malhotra's elevation to Supreme Court has been cleared by the government

Highlights Indu Malhotra expected to take oath as a Supreme Court later this week

Was second woman lawyer to be appointed senior advocate by Supreme Court

Of the top court's 24 judges, only one is a woman, Justice R Banumathi

Government sources have, however, insisted that the law ministry felt that the Supreme Court committee did go by the seniority of judges in recommending Justice KM Joseph. It is being said Justice KM Joseph is 45 in the All India seniority of judges and there were other Chief Justices of high court who were entitled to be moved to the top court ahead of him.The collegium, or the committee of judges had taken Justice Joseph's seniority and merit into account. In its recommendation, it had explicitly noted that he was considered "more deserving and suitable in all respects than other Chief Justices" and senior judges of High Courts for being appointed as Judges of the Supreme Court of India.