The Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, said that only 6.7 percent of court infrastructure at the district level is friendly to females; a lot more needs to be done, and that too immediately. While addressing the ‘National Conference of the District Judiciary’, the CJI spoke about the need for ensuring safety and a conducive environment in courts for all, especially women and other vulnerable groups.
While the number of women coming to the judiciary is increasing, the facilities that would be required to tackle their needs are certainly not improving,” Chief Justice Chandrachud said, referring to women comprising more than 60 to 70 percent of new recruits in some states, and improvements in courts should reflect such a demographic shift.
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Emphasising that courts needed to become more accessible, the CJI said that infrastructural audits were required to be undertaken to further these measures. He listed related initiatives including medical facilities in courts, creches, and technology-related projects such as e-seva Kendras and video conferencing devices as part of enhancing access to justice.
Chandrachud also spoke of the need to overcome biases within the judiciary, especially in respect of female colleagues both at the bar and the bench as more women were coming into the judiciary.
This was said by the Chief Justice of India where he said that in the first-ever National Lok Adalat, nearly 1,000 cases were amicably disposed of within five working days, which showed strength in the judiciary on this count.
Organised by the Supreme Court, the event was attended by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. She delivered the valedictory address and unveiled the new flag and insignia of the Supreme Court. The event was also addressed by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Justice Surya Kant.
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