Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud has raised serious concerns about the growing vulnerabilities faced by the girl child in the digital era, emphasizing the urgent need for specialized legal frameworks and institutional reforms to ensure her safety and dignity.
Speaking at the National Annual Stakeholders Consultation on “Safeguarding the Girl Child: Towards a Safer and Enabling Environment for Her in India,” organized by the Juvenile Justice Committee of the Supreme Court in collaboration with UNICEF India, CJI Gavai underscored the multifaceted threats posed by technology. These include online harassment, cyberbullying, digital stalking, misuse of personal data, and the proliferation of deepfake imagery.
“The threats faced by young girls are no longer confined to physical spaces. They extend into the vast and often unregulated digital world,” the Chief Justice remarked. He stressed that despite constitutional and legal guarantees, many girls continue to be denied basic rights and necessities, leaving them disproportionately exposed to sexual abuse, exploitation, and harmful practices.
CJI Gavai called for the enactment of specialized statutes to address emerging digital threats and advocated for targeted training of law enforcement agencies, judicial officers, and policymakers. He emphasized that technology must be harnessed as a tool for liberation, not exploitation, and that digital governance must prioritize the protection of the girl child.
The Chief Justice also quoted Rabindranath Tagore’s iconic line, “Where the mind is without fear,” to underline the vision of a society where every girl can thrive without fear or discrimination.
The consultation brought together key stakeholders from the judiciary, government, civil society, and international organizations to deliberate on actionable strategies for creating a safer digital environment for girls across India.
