Supreme Court judge Justice V. Gopala Gowda on Sunday expressed serious concern that women were being denied equal opportunities despite proving beyond doubt that they were capable of any kind of work. He said there was an urgent need to give equal opportunities to women in all spheres of life.
Inaugurating the Karnataka State Women Advocates’ Conference, organised by the Indian Federation of Women Lawyers and the Mysuru Women Advocates’ Forum, Justice Gowda said if opportunities are given to women, they would do excel.
In fact, women would have more sincerity towards work, he opined.
He recalled that Basavanna, in his 24,000 vachanas, had preached equal opportunities for women and stressed the need to give them equal rights.
Citing examples like Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and Chennamma, he said women have been playing a pivotal role in nation building for centuries, and they were in the forefront during the freedom struggle as well.
Justice Gowda called upon women advocates to help illiterate women and those in rural areas to get justice as they are prone to exploitation and harassment. Work for the cause and uplift of women, he told them.
He also touched upon the prevalence of female foeticide, especially in States like Odisha, Jharkhand and parts of West Bengal, and said it is a pity many people have failed to understand that the female child is, in no way, inferior to the male. He also said women should not be confined within the four walls of their house after marriage.
Citing the examples of Vijayalakshmi Pandit and Annie Besant, he said skilled women can excel if provided the opportunities they deserve.
More women judges
He also said the judiciary needs to appoint more women judges in high courts across the country. At present, there is only one woman each judge in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkim, and three each in Karnataka, Kerala and Rajasthan, he said.
In his speech, Karnataka Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee observed that political reservation for women was of little help as often, the husband of the elected women functions in the post.
