Justice BV Nagarathna Advocates for Sisterhood in the Legal Profession
During a recent event marking the launch of Senior Advocate Indira Jaising’s book, ‘The Constitution is My Home’, Supreme Court Justice BV Nagarathna highlighted the necessity of building a supportive community among women in the legal profession. Historically, the legal field has been dominated by men who have enjoyed the benefits of established social networks and professional camaraderie.
Justice Nagarathna emphasized the importance of creating similar support systems for women, cautioning that the progress achieved by women in law should not wane. She stated, “The legal profession can be intensely competitive, but the most enduring progress has come when women refused isolation and chose solidarity over scarcity.”
She continued by pointing out the inherent “brotherhood” that has facilitated men’s success in law, a benefit often not extended to women entering the field. “For women, by contrast, they have entered the profession without such a network and ease in most cases. That is why sisterhood in the profession is very important,” she added.
Mentorship and Support: A Pathway to Progress
Justice Nagarathna called upon experienced lawyers to mentor younger advocates, regardless of gender, underscoring the diminishing burdens faced by successive generations of women lawyers. “With each successive generation, the burden becomes a little less onerous – from fighting for entry to demanding recognition to reclaiming leadership,” she remarked.
Turning her attention to Indira Jaising, Justice Nagarathna praised her for not only achieving professional success but also for her role in reshaping societal norms and legal institutions. “Very few people alter the vocabulary of public life, and Ms. Jaising has done that to a great extent,” she noted.
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Indira Jaising on the Constitution and Gender Justice
Before Justice Nagarathna’s remarks, Indira Jaising engaged in a dialogue with journalist Sreenivasan Jain, discussing various topics including gender justice and the enduring relevance of the Indian Constitution. Jaising described the Constitution as her “home”, emphasizing its personal significance and expressing concern over contemporary challenges to its integrity.
Jaising articulated her belief in the judiciary’s potential role in safeguarding constitutional values, expressing optimism that a time will come when judges will assertively protect these principles. “At the end of the day, you’re dealing with their power, and no one likes their power taken away,” she stated.
The conversation also touched on the judiciary’s mixed record on gender justice. “On the one hand, you have judgments like Vishakha, declaring freedom from sexual harassment as a fundamental right. But there’s a contradiction when real people come before the courts,” Jaising observed.
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The Role of a Strong Bar in Judicial Accountability
Addressing the role of the bar in maintaining judicial integrity, Jaising called for a more robust and vocal legal community. “In my opinion, it is only a strong bar which can keep a judiciary in check,” she asserted, highlighting the need for collective responsibility within the legal profession.
Overall, the book launch event served as a platform for crucial discussions on the intersection of law, gender, and constitutional values, featuring insights from two of India’s most prominent legal figures.
