Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on Saturday batted for better working hours and work-life balance in law offices and chambers of lawyers..The CJI recounted the experience of his late former wife who was a lawyer herself. "My late former wife who was a lawyer, when she went to a law firm, she asked what would be the working hours and she was told it is 24x7 and 365 days," the CJI said.Further, she was told there would be no family time for her, the CJI said."When she asked what about ones with family, she was told find a husband who can do household chores and there is no family time," he stated.But things are changing now, he added.The CJI was speaking at 31st annual convocation of the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru..In his address, the CJI further said that he allows his women law clerks to work from home when they experience health issues associated with menstruation."Last year, four law clerks out of five were women. It is common for them to call me up and say that, 'Sir I have menstrual cramps'. I tell them, 'please work from home and take care of your health'. We have also provided sanitary napkins dispensers in the female washrooms in the Supreme Court of India," he said. The CJI also had a word of advice for the graduating students. "If being a good person and good lawyers comes at a juncture, I urge you to be a good person. If the cost of being successful is that we have to act against conscience or be indifferent in the face of injustice, know that the cost is too high," he said..The CJI has been vocal about having a good work-life balance. In January this year, he had said that those in legal profession should stop glorifying burnout.He had bemoaned the fact that those in the legal profession tend to take pride in the extra-long hours associated with their jobs, leading to mental health issues."One cause is the adversarial tenure. People take pride in it which makes it stressful. Long nights, overworked, financial worries ... Mental health can improve performance in long run. We have developed a system which awards excellence at the cost of everything else," he said..[Read live coverage of the CJI's speech below]
Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on Saturday batted for better working hours and work-life balance in law offices and chambers of lawyers..The CJI recounted the experience of his late former wife who was a lawyer herself. "My late former wife who was a lawyer, when she went to a law firm, she asked what would be the working hours and she was told it is 24x7 and 365 days," the CJI said.Further, she was told there would be no family time for her, the CJI said."When she asked what about ones with family, she was told find a husband who can do household chores and there is no family time," he stated.But things are changing now, he added.The CJI was speaking at 31st annual convocation of the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru..In his address, the CJI further said that he allows his women law clerks to work from home when they experience health issues associated with menstruation."Last year, four law clerks out of five were women. It is common for them to call me up and say that, 'Sir I have menstrual cramps'. I tell them, 'please work from home and take care of your health'. We have also provided sanitary napkins dispensers in the female washrooms in the Supreme Court of India," he said. The CJI also had a word of advice for the graduating students. "If being a good person and good lawyers comes at a juncture, I urge you to be a good person. If the cost of being successful is that we have to act against conscience or be indifferent in the face of injustice, know that the cost is too high," he said..The CJI has been vocal about having a good work-life balance. In January this year, he had said that those in legal profession should stop glorifying burnout.He had bemoaned the fact that those in the legal profession tend to take pride in the extra-long hours associated with their jobs, leading to mental health issues."One cause is the adversarial tenure. People take pride in it which makes it stressful. Long nights, overworked, financial worries ... Mental health can improve performance in long run. We have developed a system which awards excellence at the cost of everything else," he said..[Read live coverage of the CJI's speech below]
