Legal profession not providing equal opportunities for women, says CJI Chandrachud

Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud expressed concern over the stereotypes plaguing the legal profession. He said that it was important to strive for change, particularly in providing equal opportunities to women and junior advocates.

Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud expressed concern over the stereotypes plaguing the legal profession. He said that it was important to strive for change, particularly in providing equal opportunities to women and junior advocates.

He was speaking at the foundation laying ceremony for an additional court building at the Madurai district court campus on Saturday. The foundation stone was laid in the presence of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, Tamil Nadu Law Minister S. Regupathy, Supreme Court judges, Acting Chief Justice of the Madras High Court T. Raja, Madras High Court judges and Ministers. Additional court buildings at Mayiladuthurai were also inaugurated.

Justice Chandrachud said legal profession was not providing equal opportunities for women. “Statistics informs us that for 50,000 male advocate enrolments in Tamil Nadu, there were only 5,000 women enrolments. The situation is the same all over the country,” he said.

While this phase was changing with more number of women being recruited in district judiciary, there was a need to create equal opportunities for women. They took multifold responsibilities as they progressed in life. He pointed out that law chambers were sceptical in recruiting women though there was no lack of talent. It was because of the stereotype that they may not put in long working hours due to familial responsibilities. “Child bearing and child care is a choice and women should not be punished for taking up that responsibility,” he said.

A young male lawyer may also choose to be involved in child care and family care. If the women wanted to balance work with family care, it was the responsibility to provide institutional support. Creche facilities should be set up in court complexesin order to provide them equal opportunities and improve working conditions.

Speaking on the plight of young advocates, the CJI said that they were being poorly paid. He said that he came to know that in Madurai the entry level pay was about ₹5,000 to ₹12,000 per month. Such poor pay affected the marginalised communities. It forced young advocates to take up works unrelated to their branch of study to make ends meet. He asked the senior members to shed the paternalistic approach. The young advocates were sharp, hardworking, and hungry for work. Seniors should trust the youngsters, he said.

T.N. judicial infrastructure hailed