Two Days‟ Workshop on “Gender Sensitization” was organized by the Hon‟ble Committee for Sensitization of Family Court Matters, High Court of Judicature at Allahabad on 12th & 13th July, 2025 for Family Court Judges (Gautam Buddha Nagar Cluster) at the Judicial Training & Research Institute, U.P., Lucknow, in which Judicial Officers of Family Court from districts Amroha, Baghpat, Bijnor, Bulandshahar, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffar Nagar, Rampur, Saharanpur, Sambhal and Shamli participated.
The objective of the workshop was to familiarize Judicial Officers with the concept of Gender to make officers aware of and sensitive to gender stereotypes; and to enable them to recognize the working of gender in their homes and workplace.
The Workshop was inaugurated on 12th July, 2025 by Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Sangeeta Chandra, Judge, Allahabad High Court at Lucknow and Chairperson, Committee for Sensitization of Family Court Matters, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Siddharth, Judge, Allahabad High Court and Administrative Judge of Bulandshahar district, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Om Prakash Shukla, Judge, Allahabad High Court at Lucknow and Member, Committee for Sensitization of Family Court Matters. Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Manju Rani Chauhan, Judge, Allahabad High Court and Member, Committee for Sensitization of Family Court Matters also graced the workshop with her presence.
Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Sangeeta Chandra delivered the opening address, reflecting on the objective of the workshop being to create awareness on gender issues not to emphasize sameness, rather to ensure equality while respecting differences. Your Lordship spoke about the silent prejudices that affect our day-today lives and work and how this workshop becomes important to dispel them. Your Lordship elucidated as to how myriad areas of law, society, Economics, philosophy and gender are all inter-linked, reflecting the idea of this workshop as an eye-opener.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Siddharth addressed the gathering reflecting on the true import of gender sensitization and the nuanced difference between „sex‟ and „gender‟. His Lordship discussed how the traditional model of division of labour has metamorphosized over time, and the evolution and change in conventional roles has led to complex issues that need thorough consideration and discussion. His Lordship cited the famous lines of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains” to drive home the need for opening our minds.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Om Prakash Shukla delivered the Keynote Address, stating how gender dynamics have a strong impact on perception and the implications of gender on behavioural norms and expectations. His Lordship emphasized that decisions must be fair, inclusive and free from gender bias, for which stereotypes on sex and sexual offences need to be broken too. The beginning point for this has to be consideration of the changing cultural milieu and proactive participation of Family Courts in removing biases. His Lordship cited the cases of NALSA v. Union of India (2014) regarding the fluidity of the gender discourse and State of Punjab v. Gurmit Singh (1996) about the need to break subconscious biases in cases involving sexual offences.
Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Manju Rani Chauhan addressed the participants, citing the need for a balanced approach when it comes to handling gender issues. Your Lordship also mentioned some instances of gender bias and how true justice can only be meted out if these stereotypes are removed. Moreover, Your Lordship stressed on the importance of active participation and discussion in such a workshop to elicit varied ideas and experiences and learn from each other.
The sessions in the workshop were conducted by Prof. Roli Misra, Dr. Prashant Shukla and Dr. Sonali Roy Choudhury from the Gender Sensitization (Gen Sen) Cell, University of Lucknow. The workshop module is designed as participative and discussion-oriented with a view to change the perceptions regarding gender.
Prof. Roli Misra introduced the framework of these two days‟ workshop and expressed gratitude for the consistent efforts of the Hon‟ble Committee for Sensitization of Family Court Judges to better understand the spirit of gender equality while deciding cases. She mentioned common gender stereotypes and the need for empathy to address violence and inequality. She also cited that the implementation of laws needs to be strengthened.
Dr. Prashant Shukla addressed the august gathering in the inaugural session on „Understanding Gender‟ and stated how it is important to discuss what books say so that one knows what is to be done. He set the tone of the workshop by distinguishing between equality and equity and that gender sensitization is not about total uniformity but about appreciating differences.
There was a session conducted by Prof. Roli Misra, Dr. Prashant Shukla and Dr. Sonali Roy Choudhury on breaking stereotypes and unlearning the biases in which the gender roles and role reversals were discussed followed by interactive and activity session. The participating officers shared their experiences.
On Day Two – Gender Sensitivity was discussed through cases laws followed by a session in which media clips were shown to shed light on various aspects of gender sensitization.
The valedictory session was graced by Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Sangeeta Chandra, Judge, Allahabad High Court at Lucknow and Chairperson, Committee for Sensitization of Family Court Matters, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Jaspreet Singh, Judge, Allahabad High Court at Lucknow and Member, Committee for Sensitization of Family Court Matters and Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Manju Rani Chauhan, Judge, Allahabad High Court & Member, High Court Committee for Sensitization of Family Court Matters.
In the valedictory session, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Jaspreet Singh, Judge, Allahabad High Court at Lucknow and Member, Committee for Sensitization of Family Court Matters delivered the valedictory address followed by the vote of thanks. His Lordship mentioned three essentials to ensure the success of such a workshop- inculcation, remembrance and retrieval. His Lordship mentioned the idea of intersectionality and the need for heightened sensitivity. His Lordship mentioned the book “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” as an example to understand gender constructs. His Lordship stated that as judges, sensitization should reflect in personal behaviour and the institution as a whole.
