Women are going to dominate the workforce in the next few decades; equity ensures their place in the Sun: Justice Hima Kohli

Justice Hima Kohli of the Supreme Court on Tuesday emphasized that equity should not be treated as a mere buzzword or slogan, but as the foundation on which true equality is built..She explained that to achieve true justice and fairness in society, everyone must have equal access to opportunities and must be treated with dignity and respect."Equity is not just a buzzword or a slogan. It is the very foundation on which the edifice of true equality is built. Without equity, equality will remain a pipe dream. To achieve true justice and fairness in our society, each individual must have equal access to opportunities and everyone must be treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve," she said..According to Justice Kohli, equity is the golden rule that is imbued in the soul of the Indian justice delivery system."It stands for fairness, egalitarianism, impartiality and a just distribution of benefits and burdens. The principle of equity ensures that justice is delivered fairly and impartially," she added..The judge was speaking on the theme Embracing Equity in the Justice Delivery System at an event celebrating International Women's Day organized by the Adhivakta Parishad's Supreme Court Unit..She said that we must reflect - not only on International Women's Day but on every day of the year - on the role that equity plays in achieving true justice and equality in our society.Justice Kohlie noted that equity is the cornerstone of a just and fair society where every individual gets the same opportunities, resources and benefits, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status."It is the cardinal principle that ensures that everyone is treated fairly and impartially and that no one is left behind in the growth of society. It is a recognition of the fact that women, who constitute almost 50% of the total population in India and are going to dominate the workforce in the next few decades, are given their place under the Sun; that they enjoy equal rights and privileges at par with men; that they are not oppressed, mentally, physically or emotionally; that they are empowered to fight for the goals they choose to set for themselves; that their dreams can take wings and that they can freely march to the beat of their own drum," she said..Justice Kohli also highlighted the evolution of the Indian justice delivery system over the years and credited the principles of equity and justice for playing a crucial role in this process.She noted that the Supreme Court and High Courts have been instrumental in upholding these principles by laying down several guidelines to ensure that the justice delivery system remains just and equitable.