CJI Gavai: Cooperation, Not Conflict, Key to Gender Equality in India

Chief Justice of India Bhushan R. Gavai delivered the 30th Justice Sunanda Bhandare Memorial Lecture in Delhi, framing the path to a gender-equal India as one of collaboration rather than confrontation. He urged men in power to share authority and to recognize that empowering women is not a loss, but a liberation for society.

He emphasized that real progress requires dismantling the invisible social, cultural, and economic barriers that limit women’s freedom and participation. The justice noted that the benefits of law, education, and opportunity must reach every woman, not only in metropolitan cities but in small towns, villages, and marginalised communities.

Gavai stressed that gender justice cannot be the sole responsibility of women; it demands an active reimagining of power by men across institutions, workplaces, and political systems, aligning with the vision of Justice Sunanda Bhandare. He reminded the audience that the journey over the last 75 years since the Constitution’s adoption has produced advances, but these should not be symbolic or tokenistic; they must translate into real access and opportunities for all women.

The lecture called for both men and women to rebuild the moral and institutional architecture of equality envisioned by the Constitution, moving beyond rhetoric to concrete, sustained action that expands women’s presence and participation at every level of society.

Cover image source: Vigilant civic society partnered with courts to drive progress in gender justice: CJI 🔗

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