Mindset must change from making concessions for women to recognising their entitlements: CJI Chandrachud

Society’s mindset must change from making concessions for women to recognising their entitlements, said Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud while delivering the keynote address at the second edition of the News18 SheShakti event held in New Delhi on September 16.

Speaking about women’s safety, Chandrachud pointed out that there is no dearth of legal provisions to protect the interests of women in the private and public space. "But, stringent laws alone do not make for a just society. Above all we need to change our mindset, ” he added.

The CJI opened his address by talking about the many issues that concern women today and pointing out how they are broader issues facing our society – such as ensuring equal opportunities, dignity, etc.

Chandrachud said that talking about woman’s rights is not just a woman’s prerogative and highlighted that every woman must be accepted for who she is. He said, “Talking about women’s rights is not a women’s thing. Some of the great life lesson, I have learnt from my female colleagues.”

“I believe equal participation of women is important for a better society. Before we adopted the Constitution of India, the Indian Women’s Charter of Life was drafted by Hansa Mehta, who was feminist,” he added.

He also said that equal participation of women in governance, policy and leadership roles is positively linked to better development outcomes, but to ensure that, one must address issues of continued gendered allocation of domestic labour as gender equality is not just a function of statistics, but the lived realities of women. The key focus, therefore, must be on how to provide women a level playing field, Chandrachud said.