To Counteract Gender Stereotypes In The Legal Profession, The Supreme Court Launched a Handbook

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court unveiled a manual on dispelling gender stereotypes that would instruct justices on how to avoid using insensitive gender terminology in court rulings and legal language.
The goal of the manual, according to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, is to identify and get rid of words and expressions that have gender biases in court orders and legal language.

To avoid stereotypes

By first identifying language that supports gender preconceptions and then providing substitute words and phrases, it aids judges in recognizing and avoiding such stereotypes, according to CJI.

According to CJI, the purpose of this is to help judges and the legal profession recognize, comprehend, and fight against gender stereotypes in legal discourse. It offers substitute words and phrases that may be utilized when preparing petitions, orders, and judgments, as well as a lexicon of terms that are gender unfair. It applies to judges and attorneys alike.

According to CJI Chandrachud, the manual highlights prevalent stereotypes held by women, many of which have been used by courts in the past and explains why they are false as well as how they may affect how the law is applied.

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Purpose of the handbook

“The purpose is not to question or criticize judgments; rather, it is to demonstrate how stereotypes may be used unintentionally. The manual tries to define stereotypes in order to increase awareness about their use, especially those that are damaging to women, CJI continued.

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He further stated that the guidebook would be released after the manual and lesson for e-filing were uploaded to the Supreme Court website.

The handbook was uploaded to the Supreme Court website. The link to the handbook is https://main.sci.gov.in/pdf/LU/16082023_073106.pdf.