Roots long

• The Supreme Court of India has declared that with increasing numbers of women entering the workforce, it’s time for the judiciary to be more aware of their well-being at the workplace.
• Justice B.V. Nagarathna reinstated two women judicial officers of Madhya Pradesh who had been sacked for “inefficiency” despite one of them having a miscarriage.
• The judgment set aside the ouster of two civil judges, deeming the termination orders “punitive, arbitrary and illegal.”
• Justice Nagarathna underscored the importance of having more women in the judiciary and other government branches, stating that greater representation of women will lead to better policies.
• She highlighted the importance of freedom from discrimination or equal protection of laws during pregnancy and maternity as precious rights for the women workforce.
• The Court reminded society that ageold, entrenched patriarchal systems have no place in a country aspiring to emerge as a developed economy.
• To achieve this goal, education must be accessible to girls in a non-discriminatory manner and a safe and healthy environment at work must be assured.