CJI Chandrachud Recalls Late Former Wife's '24x7, 365 Days' Experience At Law Firm, Calls For Better Working Hours

CJI DY Chandrachud spoke on better working conditions for women at workplace, better work-life balance at the 31st annual convocation of the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru.

CJI DY Chandrachud called for better working conditions at chambers and law firms.

Source : PTI

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Saturday called for better working hours and conditions and advocated in favour of better work-life balance in law offices and chambers of lawyers. The CJI recounted an experience of his late former wife, who was also a lawyer, at a law firm where she was told to work “24x7 and 365 days”. The CJI also said that his former wife was told that there would be no family time and that she should find a husband who could do household chores, as per a report by Bar and Bench. 

"My late former wife who was a lawyer, when she went to a law firm, asked what would be the working hours and she was told it is 24x7 and 365 days," said the CJI, speaking at the 31st annual convocation of the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru.

"When she asked what about ones with family, she was told to find a husband who can do household chores and there is no family time," he stated.

Although, he said that things are changing now. 

The CJI said that he allows his female law clerks to work from home if 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.'

He also said that sanitary napkins dispensers have been provided in female washrooms in the Supreme Court of India, according to the report. 

Addressing the graduating students, he gave them a word of advice to choose being a good person over a good lawyer. 

"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.