Institute of Legal and Management Studies

Justice JB Pardiwala, Judge of the Supreme Court and Member of its Juvenile Justice Committee, has called for urgent, ground-level efforts to protect and empower the girl child, observing that while India has made significant legislative progress, the real change must begin within families and communities.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the National Annual Stakeholders Consultation on 'Safeguarding the Girl Child: Towards a Safer and Enabling Environment for Her in India', organised by the Juvenile Justice Committee of the Supreme Court in association with UNICEF India, Justice Pardiwala said it was unfortunate that even after 75 years of the Constitution, the country continues to struggle with ensuring the rights of children, particularly girls.

“Talking alone is not enough. We may undertake hundreds of such consultations. We may release hundreds of handbooks like the one we released yesterday. Such exercises by itself are not sufficient and complete. Judgments are not going to be enough. The need of the hour is that we should work at the grassroots level,” Justice Pardiwala said. It may be noted that Justice Pardiwala had released yesterday a Handbook on Child Rights,

He underscored the need for a team “with hearts full of compassion and empathy,” and praised UNICEF India's continued work in this regard.

Justice Pardiwala lamented that children often remain overlooked in policymaking since “they do not constitute a voting class,” leading to their rights and needs being relegated to the periphery. However, he acknowledged that India has progressed from an era of inadequate recognition of child rights to one of active engagement.

Citing Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, he reflected on children's heightened sensitivity to injustice, noting that girl children experience it even more intensely due to systemic gender bias.

“The problems faced by girl children are deeply rooted in our societal approach towards the female gender in general. The way our society perceives women directly translates into prejudice against the girl child,” he said.

Justice Pardiwala observed that while India has enacted numerous laws and schemes aimed at creating a supportive and conducive environment for the girl child, their effective implementation continues to face serious challenges.

He noted that laws indeed have the power to shape social behaviour and bring transformative change, but their impact is often blunted by deep-rooted social attitudes and cultural norms that resist change.

“While it is essential to ensure that laws are implemented in both letter and spirit, our efforts must extend beyond the legal framework to actively shape and transform social conversations and perceptions about the girl child. Only then can we create an environment where legal protections are matched by an equally responsive and accepting society,” he said.

Justice Pardiwala stressed that the effort to correct social wrongs must begin within homes by identifying and confronting both the visible and hidden forms of discrimination that persist in families and communities.

He pointed out that unequal expectations are often placed on children based on gender, with girls disproportionately assigned household chores while boys are exempted.

“In doing so, we not only habituate the practice of exploiting the labour of the girl child from a very early age but also reinforce societal norms that undervalue her time, potential, and opportunities,” he said.

He stressed that true change must start “within our own homes,” by eliminating unequal expectations and discriminatory practices. “If every home becomes a space of equality and respect, society as a whole will follow,” he added.

Drawing from examples in indigenous communities, especially from North Eastern regions, Justice Pardiwala said several traditions within India already embody gender equality where the birth of a girl is celebrated, and girls are seen as contributors, not dependents.

"By learning from the wisdom of indigenous communities and re-orienting ourselves to further affirm the constitutional vision of equality, we can build a society where every girl child is welcomed, nurtured, and empowered to realise her full potential."

Referring to the consultation's sessions, he highlighted deliberations on the PCPNDT Act, education, cybercrime, and the implementation of the POCSO Act, observing that “justice is not only about verdicts, it is equally about dignity, healing, and restoring public trust in the system.”

He spoke about the session on cyber crimes which highlighted the risks in cyberworld. "Girl children stand at a higher risk of also being victimized in the online space. Perpetrators capitalise on the anonymity, accessibility and interconnectedness of the digital domain to commit crimes against women and girls. Our present investigative methodologies are not attuned to effectively handle complex crimes committed in the cyber-space. Therefore, we recognized the need for more stringent legal safeguards, enhanced law enforcement, and a more effective use of technology to protect children online, particularly girls, while enabling them to learn and grow," he said.

He noted that states such as Odisha, Rajasthan, Assam, Telangana, and Kerala have shown effective models in combating child marriage, cybercrime, and child abuse through community-based interventions.

Justice Pardiwala called for policies grounded in empirical data, coordination among departments, and preventive strategies focused on adolescent empowerment and safe communities.

Concluding his address, he urged stakeholders to transform discussions into action:

“Let today mark not just the conclusion of a consultation, but the reaffirmation of our collective resolve to protect, empower, and uplift every child in India.”

He expressed gratitude to Justice B.V. Nagarathna, Chairperson of the Juvenile Justice Committee, for her leadership, as well as to the Union Ministries of Women and Child Development, Education, and Health, and UNICEF India for their partnership.

“Let us move forward with faith in our Constitution and compassion in our hearts, to build a nation where every child, especially every girl child, can live with dignity, equality, and hope,” he said.