‘More Women Will Enter Judiciary If Level Playing Field Is Provided’: CJI DY Chandrachud

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has said more women will enter into judiciary if there is a level playing field. 

CJI Chandrachud made these comments while speaking on the fifth and final day of the 21st edition of Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2023

“We need to redefine merit in an inclusive sense… If you open a level playing field for entry, you will have more women in the judiciary. Unless we start increasing the inflow of marginalised persons at the entry level, we cannot achieve their fair share,” Justice Chandrachud said, HT reported.

The CJI also underlined the language barriers. 

“English was construed as a central language that binds our institution together but that is not the language people speak. We need to open up our courts to people,” Justice Chandrachud said.

Recalling women's participation during Covid-19 days, the CJI said, “It was a good learning curve... During video-conferencing, we found more women arguing cases… The idea of live streaming is part of a process of confidence building so that people understand what we do. We have provided for translation of our judgments in regional languages… We now have a transcription of proceedings....instantaneously prepared...It is to create greater transparency," said.

“We opened up our space for a sign language interpreter too recently. The accessibility audit was conducted in our court...I just got the report and we are in the process of implementing it,” Justice Chandrachud said.

Speaking on barriers for LGBTQI and women, the chief justice of India said, “We recently prepared two handbooks - one for LGBTQI…barriers they experience in courts. 
Second, a handbook on the language we employ against women… This handbook is on gender stereotypes to ensure there is some form of discourse that is just not acceptable in our judicial system,” Justice Chandrachud said at the summit.

CJI Chandrachud shed light on the digitisation efforts in the legal system, with the implementation of phase 3 of the e-court project.

The aim is to create a more citizen-centric judiciary, bringing the courts closer to the people, he said.

“The technology employed in the judicial system is democratising access to justice. Better access to courts reduces the cost of litigation. Technology is a game changer...We are in the process of digitising the entire records of all courts,” he said.

The CJI said the colonial era model must change. “It created awe among citizens. We communicate our orders through mail to jails. Faster software allows us to reach the jails in the remotest corner of the country. We are opening our private space to citizens. We have put our data of the Supreme Court on NJDG,” Justice Chandrachud said.

The CJI emphasised the unique role of judges, highlighting that their non-elected status is not a deficiency but a strength. Courts are entrusted with the duty to protect fundamental values. Sometimes, they are ahead of their times, such as in environmental protection, he said. He reflected on his dissent in the same-sex equality matter, advocating for the recognition of the right to form unions.

"In same-sex marriage, in my dissenting view, I respect the judgment of my other colleagues. Judges don't look at how society will look at their decisions. Judges go by constitutional morality and not public morality. Fraternity, human dignity, personal morality and equality.