Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud highlighted remuneration disparities among Indian women, particularly those from marginalized communities, during the inaugural Justice ES Venkataramaiah Centennial Memorial Lecture that was held by the National Law School of India University.
He referred to the gender pay gap as "a persistent challenge" that society faces and explained that it is the result of a complex interaction between several factors, such as systemic unconscious biases, cultural expectations, and societal norms. According to the CJI, "the pay gap widens as it intersects with other forms of discrimination, amplifying challenges for women who navigate both gender and racial biases," and policies to close the gender pay gap are needed.
The CJI expressed concern over disability becoming a barrier to public opportunities, praising Karnataka's judiciary as the largest employer of people with disabilities. The Supreme Court upheld the rights of people with disabilities, highlighting the significance of equality and dignity as well as the state's duty to uphold these rights.
According to the CJI, the Supreme Court's audit report on its accessibility for the disabled provides information about both functional and physical accessibility issues, such as the absence of interpreters or wheelchair-friendly amenities. He stated, "We are currently on the path to adopting the suggestions given by the report." Justice BV Nagarathna, a Supreme Court judge and the daughter of Justice Venkataramiah, who is expected to become the nation's first female chief justice, supervised the event. India's former chief justice was Justice Venkataramaiah.
NLSIU vice-chancellor Sudhir Krishnaswamy and registrar NS Nigam also attended the event featuring law school students and judicial fraternity members to explore financial landscapes.
