CJI DY Chandrachud says will release glossary of inappropriate gender terms to be avoided in court orders, legal documents

In a bid to create awareness on casual and inappropriate references to women in court orders and legal documents, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on Wednesday announced plans for the release of a glossary of inappropriate gender terms..The CJI was speaking on the occasion of belated celebration of International Women's Day in the Supreme Court."One project I had started a few years ago is a legal glossary of inappropriate terms in the discourse on gender. For instance, I have come across judgments which have referred to a woman as a ‘concubine’ when she is in a relationship. Women have been called 'keeps' in judgements where there were applications for quashing of FIRs under the Domestic Violence Act and Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code. It is important for us to bring focus on these terms not to be little a judge but to understand why use of these terms belies our openness to gender sensitisation."The said glossary is to be released soon, he added..The legal glossary has been prepared by a committee headed by Calcutta High Court judge, Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya. .CJI Chandrachud expressed hope that such a glossary would shed light on how women are discriminated against in society as well as legal profession, particularly through the use of language.The idea behind the glossary is not to belittle judges but to develop and understand thought processes like preconceived notions and biases, it was stressed.“Unless we are open about these facets, it will be difficult for us to evolve as a society,” the CJI said.He also spoke about plans to reconstruct the existing Supreme Court Annexe building due to the space constraints faced by the top court's main building."The Supreme Court [building] is bursting at the seams. This is a heritage building ... When we did a walkthrough discussion, I said a large space on the ground floor [of the new building] should be for the Women's Bar Association ... I am sure that the largest space will be occupied by the women’s bar association 50 or 75 years down the line."