Fathima Beevi, the first female judge of the Indian Supreme Court and a former governor of Tamil Nadu, passed away on Thursday at the age of 96 in a private hospital in Kollam. Beevi, who was raised in the Pathanamthitta area, attended St. Joseph's Convent School for her early schooling.She proceeded to study law at the Government Law College in Ernakulam after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Kerala She became the first woman to graduate from law school in Kerala in 1950 and began her legal career. She had held the positions of Chief Judicial Magistrate and Judicial Member of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal before being appointed a judge of the Kerala High Court in 1983.

When Beevi was appointed as the first female judge of the Supreme Court of India in 1989, she created history.She was also the nation's first Muslim woman appointed to any higher court position. In 1992, she left the Supreme Court. In 1997, Beevi became the first Muslim woman to hold the office of governor of Tamil Nadu. That was her position till 2001.She was also the Chairman of the Kerala Commission for Backward Classes and a member of the National Human Rights Commission. Her name was entertained for a number of important roles, including President of India.

Apart from her profession in law and politics, Fathima Beevi was also a philanthropist and social activist.She actively promoted women's empowerment by participating in a number of women's organizations.Beevi was bestowed with multiple accolades and distinctions for her services, such as the Mahila Shiromani Award and an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree.