'Learn to Unlearn': Allahabad HC's Gender Sensitization Workshop Urges Judiciary to Shed Prejudices - 2025-10-16

"Learn to Unlearn": Allahabad HC's Gender Sensitization Workshop Urges Judiciary to Shed Prejudices

LUCKNOW – In a significant initiative aimed at fostering a more equitable and empathetic judicial environment, the Committee for Sensitization of Family Court Matters of the Allahabad High Court organized a two-day workshop on “Gender Sensitization” for judicial officers. Held on October 11th and 12th, 2025, at the Judicial Training and Research Institute (JTRI) in Lucknow, the event underscored the judiciary's commitment to addressing and dismantling ingrained societal biases that can influence the administration of justice.

The workshop brought together Judicial Officers on deputation at the Allahabad High Court, the Uttar Pradesh Government, the JTRI, and the Uttar Pradesh Legal Services Authority. The core objective was to move beyond a rudimentary understanding of gender, encouraging participants to recognize and challenge stereotypes and to critically examine the influence of gender norms in both their professional and personal lives.

---

A Call to "Unlearn": Justice Jaspreet Singh's Keynote Address

The workshop was inaugurated by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Jaspreet Singh, a Judge of the Allahabad High Court at Lucknow and a member of the organizing committee. In a compelling Keynote Address, Justice Singh set a profound and introspective tone for the proceedings, urging his fellow judicial officers to embrace a crucial intellectual and ethical exercise: the need to “learn to unlearn.”

“It is imperative to ‘learn to unlearn’ so that prejudices, including those about gender, can be left behind,” he stated. Justice Singh emphasized that the role of a judge transcends mere case disposal. He described the act of adjudication as the “dispensation of justice—a divine function,” suggesting that such a profound responsibility demands a constant state of self-awareness and a willingness to shed preconceived notions.

Drawing on the works of authors Lawrence Sanders and Robin Cook to illustrate the complexities of the human psyche, Justice Singh noted that knowledge is a dynamic and ever-expanding frontier. “The more one knows, the more one realizes one does not know,” he remarked, advocating for a judicial temperament marked by humility and receptiveness. This openness, he argued, is the essential key to breaking down deep-seated gender stereotypes.

To contextualize this evolution within the legal framework, Justice Singh cited the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018) . He used the case, which decriminalized consensual homosexual acts, to demonstrate how legal and societal understanding of gender identity and personal autonomy has matured, compelling the law to adapt to a more inclusive and rights-oriented perspective.

---

A Participative Module: Transforming Perception into Lived Reality

The workshop's curriculum, designed and facilitated by a team of distinguished academics from the University of Lucknow—Prof. Roli Misra, Dr. Prashant Shukla, and Dr. Sonali Roy Choudhury—was crafted to be highly interactive and discussion-based. The aim was not simply to lecture, but to actively engage the participating officers in a process of transforming their perceptions on gender.

Prof. Roli Misra, introducing the workshop's structure, commended the Committee for Sensitization of Family Court Matters for its sustained efforts in promoting a nuanced understanding of gender issues. She spoke powerfully about the pervasiveness of systemic inequalities and ingrained social biases, stressing that the ultimate objective must be to ensure that “equality becomes not merely an aspiration but a lived reality.” Her words highlighted the gap between the constitutional promise of equality and its practical application, a gap the judiciary is uniquely positioned to bridge.

Dr. Prashant Shukla set the intellectual tone for the sessions, quoting Socrates—“Knowledge is virtue”—to underscore the moral dimension of the discussion. He delved into the concept of gender expectations, the subtle and overt pressures society places on individuals based on their gender, and the critical need for judicial officers to identify and confront their own inherent biases.

---

Deconstructing Stereotypes Through Dialogue and Media

A central feature of the workshop was its innovative, multi-faceted approach. The academic team led joint sessions that utilized various media examples, including film clips and advertisements, to illustrate the subtle and pervasive nature of gender stereotyping in popular culture. This interactive methodology allowed the judicial officers to dissect real-world examples and share their own perspectives and experiences, fostering a collaborative learning environment.

The discussions on the second day continued this deep dive, exploring the historical roots of gender sensitivity by drawing upon references from ancient India, renowned literary works, and pivotal case laws. This holistic approach provided a rich tapestry of context, showing that while the language may change, the struggle for gender equity is a timeless one. The sessions aimed to equip the officers with the analytical tools to recognize how these stereotypes manifest not only in society but potentially in the very legal cases brought before them.

Legal Implications and the Path Forward

The Allahabad High Court's initiative reflects a broader, crucial movement within the Indian judiciary towards continuous education on social justice issues. For legal professionals, this workshop serves as a powerful reminder that judicial neutrality is not a passive state but an active, ongoing process of self-reflection and education.

The focus on "unlearning" is particularly resonant. It acknowledges that judges, like all individuals, are products of their societal environment and may unconsciously carry biases that can affect case outcomes, especially in sensitive areas like family law, matrimonial disputes, child custody, and cases of gender-based violence. By encouraging judges to confront these biases, the workshop aims to strengthen the foundational principles of fairness and impartiality that underpin the justice system.

This proactive approach to judicial training can have tangible impacts on legal practice. Lawyers appearing before a judiciary trained in gender sensitization may find a more receptive audience for arguments that challenge traditional gender roles or highlight instances of structural discrimination. It reinforces the need for legal arguments to be framed not just on black-letter law, but with a keen awareness of the social context and lived realities of the litigants.

Ultimately, the workshop organized by the Committee for Sensitization of Family Court Matters is more than just a training event; it is a statement of intent. It signals a judiciary that is not static but is actively striving to evolve in step with constitutional morality and a modern understanding of equality, ensuring that the halls of justice are accessible and fair to all, regardless of gender.