Protecting girl child must become core priority of digital governance: CJI BR Gavai

The Chief Justice of India BR Gavai today said that protecting the girl child must become a core priority of digital governance, ensuring that technological progress is accompanied by ethical safeguards.

"As we advance into a digital future, technology must serve as a tool for liberation rather than exploitation. Safeguarding the girl child today means securing her future in classrooms, workplaces, and on every screen she encounters", CJI Gavai said during his speech at the National Annual Stakeholders Consultation on “Safeguarding the Girl Child: Towards a Safer and Enabling Environment for Her in India”.

Today the Tenth Round of Consultation was held under the aegis of the Juvenile Justice Committee, Supreme Court of India in association with UNICEF India.

Stating that the collective conscience of a nation is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable, then the strength and destiny of that nation are inextricably linked to the well-being and empowerment of its daughters, the CJI has said we must ask ourselves: what does it truly mean for a society to claim that its children, especially the girl child, are “safe”? Can safety exist where dignity is denied, voices are silenced, or dreams are constrained by circumstance? These questions lie at the very heart of our constitutional culture and the responsibilities we bear to every child.

Justice Gavai noted threats faced by young girls are no longer confined to physical spaces, and extend into the vast and often unregulated digital world.  "From online harassment, cyberbullying, and digital stalking to the misuse of personal data and deepfake imagery, the challenges have evolved in both scale and sophistication. I also want to highlight the issue of intersectional discrimination. A girl who is both in a marginalized caste and living with a disability may face compounded disadvantages and multiple layers of societal discrimination. We must pay attention to these nuances", he added.

CJI highlighted that it is equally important in the mission to protect and empower the girl child to foster widespread public awareness about the rights, protections, and welfare schemes already established for children, particularly girls and juveniles in distress. On this he added, "Too often, well-meaning citizens, upon encountering a trafficked, abandoned, or abused girl, simply do not know what exactly they can do. This lack of awareness limits the effectiveness of existing frameworks and delays timely care and rehabilitation for the affected child."

"The protection and empowerment of the girl child, therefore, is an essential element of the Constitution’s transformative vision. Safeguarding a girl child, in this context, means nurturing her voice, curiosity, ambitions, and sense of self-worth. It means ensuring she can learn without fear, dream without limitation, and participate fully in the life of her community and nation. When our laws, policies, and institutions create these conditions, they not only protect an individual girl but uphold the very promise of our Republic.", the CJI has said.

Acknowledging the presence of Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smt. Annapurna Devi, the CJI said the primary responsibility for implementing the rights of a girl child rests with the executive. In protecting the rights of children, especially girls, the executive plays the most crucial role as they are the primary stakeholders in these issues. 

Justice J.B. Pardiwala of the Supreme Court of India has delivered the inaugural address at the National Annual Stakeholders Consultation on “Safeguarding the Girl Child: Towards a Safer and Enabling Environment for Her in India.” In his address, Justice Pardiwala underlined that protecting the girl child is not limited to preventing abuse or exploitation, but also includes guaranteeing her equal access to education, healthcare and social opportunities. He said, “It involves promoting her value in families and society and empowering her to make informed choices and reach her full potential as a respected individual and contributing member of the community.”