Protection of the girl child must be core priority of digital governance: CJI BR Gavai

Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai on Friday said that technology must become “a tool for liberation rather than exploitation,” as he urged stronger digital safeguards to protect young girls from emerging forms of abuse.

Speaking at the 10th National Annual Stakeholders Consultation on Safeguarding the Girl Child: Towards a Safer and Enabling Environment for Her in India held at the Supreme Court, the CJI said that the protection of the girl child must be made a core priority of digital governance.

“Our institutions, policy frameworks and enforcement authorities must therefore be attuned to the realities of our times...Training programs for police officers, educators, health professionals and local administrators should consequently incorporate a sensitive approach, equipping them to respond with empathy, nuance, and contextual understanding,” he said.

He added that laws addressing online sexual exploitation, digital trafficking and cyber harassment must be paired with effective enforcement, education and awareness initiatives.

“As we advance into a digital future, technology must serve as a tool for liberation rather than exploitation,” the Chief Justice said.

He further remarked,

“Too often, well-meaning citizens, upon encountering a trafficked, abandoned, or abused girl, simply do not know what exactly they can do. This lack of awareness limits the effectiveness of existing frameworks and delays timely care and rehabilitation for the affected child.”

Justice BV Nagarathna, Chairperson of the Supreme Court Juvenile Justice Committee, said,

“Marriage against their will....This demands a deeper examination of the social, economic and cultural barriers that continue to impede girls’ lives.”

She added,

“In today’s technological era, where innovation defines progress, it is important to recognise that technology, though empowering, also brings new vulnerabilities, especially for the girl child...The threats faced by young girls are no longer confined to physical spaces, they extend into the vast and often unregulated digital world.”

"There is a famous saying that when you educate a girl, you educate a nation. I often think what I would have become if I had not attended school or college. Quality education functions as the fulcrum not only for the empowerment of the girl child but also for the prosperity of the nation. For India to one day become the global superpower that it aspires to be, it must ensure that the young girls of today are sufficiently supported to become the women of the future who will shape the trajectory of the country," Justice Nagarathna said.

Justice JB Pardiwala, who released the Handbook on Child Rights and the Law at the event, said that it provides a comprehensive overview of the child rights protection and juvenile justice framework. He noted that it is divided into seven parts covering the definition of a child, national and international jurisprudence, statutory frameworks, comparative practices, implementation and contemporary challenges including cyber crimes, mental health concerns, and persistent enforcement gaps.

Marking the International Day of the Girl Child, Justice Pardiwala said,

“Let us therefore renew our commitment not only to uphold the law, but also to nurture a culture of respect, equality and care.”

He expressed hope that the deliberations “help build stronger paths to strengthen our collective resolve and provide practical pathways forward.”

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