India's courts to get dedicated facilities for women lawyers

The Chief Justice of India has ordered all state governments, union territories, and high courts to prioritize the construction of dedicated facilities for women lawyers in district, sub-divisional, and taluka courts nationwide.

The directive comes as the Supreme Court took a firm stance on the lack of basic infrastructure available to female advocates across the country's judicial system. The absence of adequate facilities has long been cited as a constraint affecting women lawyers' working conditions.

The CJI's instructions require authorities to establish separate washrooms and bar rooms exclusively for women legal professionals in lower court complexes. The order emphasizes that these amenities should be treated as a priority project across all levels of the judiciary.

The move reflects growing judicial attention to gender equity concerns within India's legal profession. Court infrastructure has historically prioritized male-dominated spaces, with women advocates often lacking access to dedicated rest areas and sanitation facilities comparable to those available to their male counterparts.

Implementation of the directive will require coordination between state governments, union territory administrations, and high court administrations to allocate resources and oversee construction projects at district and subordinate courts.