Chief Justice of India BR Gavai. File photo: @NarendraModi/YT via PTI Photo
Chief Justice of India BR Gavai on Wednesday (Nov 12, 2025) said progress made in gender justice in India was never the success of the courts alone; the collective voice of citizens against regressive practices was a major factor.
“It is important to recognize that progress in gender justice has never been the achievement of the courts alone. The collective voice of citizens has ensured that regressive precedents have been challenged, debated and ultimately corrected through reform, reinterpretation or legislative intervention,” said the Chief Justice.
The Chief Justice delivered the 30th Justice Sunanda Bhandare Memorial Lecture on ‘Justice for All: Building a Gender Equitable and Inclusive India’.
The Chief Justice said there were cases where judicial interpretations failed to capture the lived reality of women or fell short of the transformative spirit of the Constitution.
“However, the vigilance of civil society, the persistence of women’s movements and the courage of ordinary citizens have combined to hold the judiciary accountable to the constitutional promise of equality,” said Chief Justice Gavai.
The CJI emphasized that the dialogue between the courts and the people is one of the “most important” sources of India’s democratic strength and “reminds us that the march towards gender equality is not an accomplished goal but an ever-renewing commitment”.
“Despite the progress we have made, the road to true gender equality is far from complete. The task before us is not merely to celebrate symbolic achievements or symbolic representations, but to ensure that women have a real and equal share in the space of power, decision-making and opportunity. Equality must not be limited to numbers or appearance; it must be reflected in the structures, attitudes and private lives that shape our public lives and institutions,” the CJI said.
Published – 12 Nov 2025 22:59 IST
