HC Chief Justice inaugurates 'Mahila Court'

Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu Nov 18 (UNI) Chief Justice of Madras High Court Justice A P Shah today inaugurated a 'Mahila Court' in Cuddalore, the eighth such court in Tamil Nadu.

Speaking after the inauguration he said, the Constitution not only grants equality for women, but also empowers the state to prevent discrimination against women.

Justice Shah said India had ratified the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimation Against Women(CEDAW0) in 1993. However, the gap still existed between the goals enunciated in the Constitution on the one hand and the reality of the status of women in India on the other, he added.

He said female sexual slavery and forced prostitution were still in prevalance. Forced marriage and bride burning were still prevalent in the country and women still constitute a majority of illiterate adults, he added.

There was need for intensive training of personnel of executive, legislative and judicial wings of the state on gender issues with a special focus on law enforcement machinery and the judiciary, as well as non-governmental organisations, he added.

The courts, judges and the lawyers must provide speedy, effective and inexpensive justice, Mr Shah said.

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