Leila Seth, born on 20 October 1930 in Lucknow, made history as a prominent Indian judge and lawyer. She was the first woman to serve as a judge on the Delhi High Court and became the first female Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in 1991. Seth was also the first woman to be designated as a senior counsel by the Supreme Court of India. Throughout her illustrious career, she fought for gender equality in law, particularly advocating for daughters' inheritance rights under the Hindu Succession Act.

Seth’s early life was marked by the loss of her father when she was just 11, which led her family to face financial hardships. Despite these challenges, her mother ensured that she received an education at Loreto Convent, Darjeeling. After completing her schooling, she worked as a stenographer in Kolkata, where she met her future husband, Prem Seth, before moving to London. There, while caring for her infant son, she pursued law, topping the London Bar exam in 1958 at the age of 27, becoming the first woman to do so.

Upon returning to India, Seth started her legal practice in Patna before moving to the Delhi High Court in 1972. Her legal expertise spanned various areas, including constitutional law, tax law, and criminal cases. In 1978, she made history by becoming the first woman judge at the Delhi High Court. Later, in 1991, she was appointed Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh, cementing her place as a trailblazer for women in Indian law.

Seth’s contributions extended beyond her judicial career. She played a vital role in the Justice Verma Committee, which sought reforms in India's rape laws following the 2012 Delhi gang rape case. She also served on various enquiry commissions and advocated for equal rights for daughters in property law. As a member of the 15th Law Commission of India, she helped bring about amendments to the Hindu Succession Act, ensuring women had equal rights in joint family property.

Leila Seth's legacy as a pioneering woman in Indian law is profound, as she not only broke barriers but also made significant contributions to legal reforms and social justice. She passed away on 5 May 2017, leaving behind a lasting impact on the legal landscape of India.