The judiciary in India has addressed the stereotype-promoting language with a handbook suggesting words as replacements for judges and legal community. The 30-page booklet aims to assist judges and the legal community in identifying, understanding and combating stereotypes about women to enable the transformative project of law and constitution. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud released the handbook recently.

News reports on the handbook released quoted the handbook, “Where the language of judicial discourse reflects antiquated or incorrect ideas about women, it inhibits the transformative project of the law and the Constitution of India, which seek to secure equal rights to all persons, irrespective of gender.”

The handbook comprises words and phrases that are stereotypical found in past judgments. It also cites judgments from the past that carry such words and terms used unwittingly by the judges for stereotypical characterization of women.