Justice B V Nagarathna said women aren’t entering men’s spaces—they’re taking back what was always theirs. Her remarks at a book launch highlight how language and law must evolve to truly empower women.
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NEW DELHI: In a powerful and inspiring speech on Friday, Supreme Court Judge Justice B V Nagarathna clearly explained that women are not entering into men’s areas of work, but instead, they are breaking the old and unfair rules that kept them out for many years.
She said this while speaking at the launch of a book titled “Women Laws from the Womb to the Tomb: Rights and Remedies”, written by senior advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani.
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Justice Nagarathna beautifully shared that,
“What is happening today is not about women invading men’s spaces, but rather dismantling barriers that have unfairly excluded them for generations. Every woman stepping into a courtroom, legislature or boardroom today isn’t expanding her boundaries. She is reclaiming her fair share of this nation’s intellectual and institutional legacy.”
She made it clear that it’s not just about women entering professions that were once full of only men. She said people should use words that respect women’s place and role, and that celebrate their rightful space in every field, whether it’s law, politics, business, or any other profession.
She expressed that the language we use should be careful and inclusive. According to her, many times, we say things like “women entering the judiciary” or “taking a seat in the boardroom,” which unknowingly suggest that these areas never belonged to women in the first place.
She explained this by saying,
“It is important to pause and consider the words we use to describe these shifts. We frequently hear phrases like women entering the judiciary, claiming a seat in the board room or making their way into fields of power and influence. On deeper examination, however, they subtly suggest that these spaces were not meant for women, that their presence is unusual or even intrusive.”
Justice Nagarathna went deeper and said that such language comes from old beliefs where power and decision-making were thought to belong only to men.
She emphasized,
“There is a loud but subtle declaration that portrays women as outsiders rather than rightful participants. This kind of language is not just old-fashioned. It is fundamentally inaccurate.”
She strongly highlighted the truth by saying,
“I would like to highlight that women are not intruding. They are not taking over or stepping into someone else’s territory. They are citizens, contributors, thinkers and leaders in their own right.”
She also pointed out that for India to become a stronger nation, women must be respected and empowered, especially within their families. Justice Nagarathna said that Indian laws today provide many rights and protections to women, starting from birth till old age.
But she raised a very important question — how much are these protections actually reaching women?
She said,
“Indian law today provides a lattice of protections and rights to women at every stage of life, but how far are those remedies available to her?”
Talking about the misuse of some laws, like Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which was made to protect women from cruelty in marriage, she warned that false complaints can hurt genuine victims.
She explained that judges have a big responsibility to understand what is true and what is being misused.
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She pointed out,
“In a day and age of rampant misuse of laws, the impetus has fallen on the judiciary to see through false claims and ensure that the intent of the legislator is not left in the lurch in genuine cases; the judge is obligated to be meticulously aware of the practical realities of society and identify the distinction between a claim, weaponising the law and another, praying for justice.
To this end, a judge’s tools are two: fidelity to the law and the compassionate conscience.”
Justice Nagarathna also appreciated the book written by Mahalakshmi Pavani, saying that it talks not just about laws, but also about the struggles and issues faced by girls and women throughout their lives. She said the book gives legal explanations from birth to old age and also explains how laws work in real life.
She praised the book by saying,
“The meticulously curated structure and constituent articles of the book not only enumerate the positive description of law, but also expound the intent of the legislator, the judicial intent and the constant and contextual societal setting in which these laws operate.”
Another Supreme Court Judge, Justice K V Viswanathan, who also spoke at the book launch, said that women’s presence in areas that were earlier only for men has benefited all of society. He reminded everyone that women have made important contributions to science, technology, art, and culture all over the world.
He said,
“It is undeniable that the stunning achievements of science, technology, arts and culture world over would have been impossible without the creative contribution of women.”
He also appreciated the book, saying that it covers almost every issue that women face. He found the book both informative and interesting. Justice Viswanathan added that every legal professional should read this book, and that every woman should own a copy so they can learn about their rights and how to use them.
He said,
“It is a book which should adorn the library of every member of the legal fraternity. It should be possessed by every woman so that they are aware of their rights and how to enforce them.”
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