Chief Justice Chandrachud Initiates "Sexuality Sensitization" At Supreme Court

Under the directions of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, the Supreme Court has initiated steps towards "inclusive infrastructure and sexuality sensitization for LGBTQIA + community" at the Supreme Court.

Nine "Universal Rest Rooms" are being created at different locations in the main building as well as the additional building complex of the Supreme Court as a part of this initiative, taking the lead towards the inclusion of LGBTQIA + Community within the Supreme Court.

The Court has announced that the Online Appearance Portal launched earlier this year has also been made Gender neutral.

Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy has been inducted as a member of the Gender Sensitization and Internal Complaints Committee (GSICC) by the Court. After CJI Chandrachud took charge, the GSICC was reconstituted in February with Justice Hima Kohli as the Chairperson and Justice B.V. Nagarathna among nine others as members.

One of the members of the GSICC is a Professor of Legal Practice at Jindal Global Law School, Shruti Pandey, who was inducted as a nominee of the CJI. Shruti Pande is infamous for her hate speech during a lecture against the majority community. A complaint had been filed against her before the Bar Council of India for her remarks. (read report) 

"A proposal for broadening of the scope of the Gender Sensitization and Internal Complaints Committee to Gender and Sexuality Sensitization and Internal Complaints Committee, as requested by an advocate from the community, is also under active consideration. Suitable amendments in regulations keeping pace with the changing times and evolving needs of the society and the institution are being envisaged", said a release by the Apex Court.

The release also said that these "landmark initiatives" to revisit the modes of organizational and spatial developments are aimed at "sensitization towards and inclusion of LGBTQIA+ Community to ensure a dignified work environment at the Apex Court". 

Click here to read/download the release