More women representation in Bench needed: CJI

Bangalore, Sep 22 (UNI) Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan today stressed the need for more representation of women in the Bench for speedy and good dispensation of justice.

Speaking after inaugurating the first-ever Asia Women Lawyers conference here, he opined that women were equally competent to men in all respects.

As more women were entering the legal fraternity, it had become necessary to restructure the entire legal system to accommodate them. ''I hope there will be a large number of women in the Bench in the days to come,'' he said.

Maintaining that women have proved themselves equally competent to men in dealing and deciding cases in equal measure, he said ''the legal profession was no longer a man's domain.'' Referring to the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, enacted recently, Chief Justice cautioned against its misuse by wealthy people, who could escape by taking advantage of certain provisions of the Act, including Compounding in nature.

''We do not know the implications of the enforcement of the Domestic Violence Act, which has come into domain now,'' he said.

He urged the women lawyers to deliberate on it for reforming it further.

Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph, speaking on the occasion said empowerment of women means 'maintain, respect and protect womenhood.' He also called upon women not to shed their womanhood in their zeal to achieve excellence.

Women delegates from Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, and African countries are taking part in the two-day conference which has 'Women Rights are Human Rights' as its theme.

The conference would also deliberate on issues relating to domestic violence and prevention of trafficking of women and children.

UNI