How does Supreme Court’s new handbook rethink gender sensitivity? | Explained
The Supreme Court of India has released a new handbook aimed at improving gender sensitivity in judicial proceedings and judgment writing. This report replaces the 2023 version, focusing on trauma-informed practices and survivor-centric language to prevent the re-traumatization of victims.
Why it matters
This initiative represents a significant systemic effort to reform how the Indian judiciary handles sexual violence cases and addresses patriarchal biases.
The story so far: A Supreme Court report published on Monday (August 3, 2026) makes a series of recommendations aimed at enhancing gender sensitivity in how judges write judgments and conduct proceedings in cases involving sexual offences and vulnerable persons. It replaces patriarchal language with survivor-centric terminology and recommends trauma-informed courtroom practices to prevent the re-traumatisation of victims.
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