Farhan Israili/Jaipur

Today, the presence of women lawyers are far more visible in the Jaipur Court than ever before. But around two decades ago, the situation was completely different. Only a handful of women were in the profession, and the number of Muslim women lawyers was even smaller. It was during that time that Nigar Sultana began her legal career.

The early days were not easy—there were stares from people and occasional remarks. But she never allowed these things to come in the way of her work. Gradually, she established herself, and today she has become a trusted name across Jaipur, especially in cases related to women.

Advocate Nigar Sultana 

For Nigar, the path to the courtroom was not unfamiliar. Her father, Sultan Mohammad Nasir, was a well-known lawyer in Jaipur. Since childhood, she accompanied him to court and got the opportunity to observe the profession closely.

Nigar says, “We had been seeing the courts since childhood. My father not only fought cases but also helped people in need. People trusted him, and that inspired me to come into this field as well.”

Religious education was also given importance in the family, so she was sent to Azamgarh for some time, where she completed the Alima course. Later, she returned to Jaipur and continued her studies. Admission to Maharani College in Jaipur proved to be a turning point in her life.

Nigar says, “There I understood how the outside world works. During that time, I decided that like my father, I would study law and serve people.”

Advocate Nigar Sultana being honoured

After completing her law degree from Rajasthan University in 2005 and registering with the Bar Council of Rajasthan in 2006, she began practicing in Jaipur’s courts.

She recalls, “At that time, I was the only girl in Sanganer Court. I did not pay much attention to it. My father was highly respected in the court, so people did not openly say much. But there were stares, and sometimes laughter could be heard.” Though the environment was new, she gradually adapted and remained focused on her work.

Nigar did not limit herself to one place. She got opportunities to work in Jaipur’s Sanganer Court, Sessions Court, and High Court, and it added to her experience. She had defined the scope of her practice early on.

Nigar says, “My father advised me not to do criminal practice, so I focused on civil and revenue matters.” Today, she has nearly 20 years of experience in this field.

Advocate Nigar Sultana

During her practice, she noticed that many women could not express themselves openly, especially in a court environment. Nigar says, “Women often hesitated to speak with men, so I thought I should take up their cases.” Gradually, her work expanded to matrimonial matters as well, and today she has built a strong identity across Jaipur.

On the question of Muslim advocates, Nigar believes conditions in Jaipur are much better now. “Today, Muslim boys and girls are entering this field and doing good work,” she says.

Nigar’s work was never limited to the courts. Since her college days, she has been associated with social work. She worked on projects related to child labour, where children were educated and their mothers were encouraged to become self-reliant.

In 2001, along with her colleagues, she founded the Pahal Education and Social Development Society. Under this initiative, the Little Flower Academy school was established in Jaipur’s Sanganer area, where more than 500 children now study.

Advocate Nigar Sultana

The school has built a strong reputation in the area. Children from weaker sections receive education at low fees, while the fees of needy children are supported through zakat and donations from philanthropists.

Nigar has B.Ed., LL.B. degrees, and a diploma in Labour Law. Even after marriage, she continued her work.

She says, “My husband, Wasim Akhtar, has always supported me. He never stopped me from pursuing advocacy, education, or service work.”

Currently, she practices in court with her elder brother, Advocate Javed Akhtar. Together, the siblings are carrying forward their father’s legacy.

Advocate Nigar Sultana

Nigar Sultana also holds a State Notary license and handles document verification work, helping ordinary people with legal procedures. She has also served as Vice President of the Sanganer Bar Association.

According to Nigar, advocacy is not just about speaking—it is equally about listening. “Being a good listener is very important; only then can you properly understand a case.”

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She says, “There was a time when I was alone. Today, many girls are practicing law in the same court. That is the biggest change.”