Supreme Court releases handbook to combat gender-based stereotypes

The Supreme Court of India released a handbook for judges on Wednesday to avoid using terms like adulteress, affair, ladylike, mistress, marriageable age, and more. The handbook also includes preferred or alternate terms that the judges must use such as “clothing" (instead of provocative clothing), “mother" (instead of unwed mother), “woman (instead of whore), "unmarried woman" (instead of spinster), etc.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud released the handbook called. "Combating Gender Stereotypes." He said that the handbook aims to assist judges and the legal community in identifying and preventing gender stereotypes about women. 

The handbook includes a glossary of over 100 terms that have been used in the Indian judiciary system for years and are now being replaced by phrases and words that have no stereotypes attached to them. 

"This is about stereotypes about women in legal discourse. It identifies stereotypes used by courts and how they are unwittingly used. (It is) not to cast aspersion on judgments. It will help judges to avoid it by recognising language which leads to stereotypes. It highlights binding decisions which have highlighted (sic) the same," said the CJI. 

DY Chandrachud recently approved gender-neutral restrooms and online appearance slips at the apex court. 

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