Justice BV Nagarathna Raises Alarm Over Worsening Sex Ratios: A Call for National Introspection

Supreme Court Judge Justice BV Nagarathna has voiced serious concern over the declining sex ratio in certain Indian states, warning that female infanticide and foeticide continue to threaten gender balance. Speaking at the National Annual Stakeholders Consultation on “Safeguarding the Girl Child: Towards a Safer and Enabling Environment for Her in India”, organized by the Juvenile Justice Committee (JJC) of the Supreme Court in collaboration with UNICEF India, she emphasized that girls must not only survive but thrive.

Girls Deserve Equal Opportunity to Thrive

Justice Nagarathna, addressing an audience that included Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi, and other Supreme Court judges, highlighted that true equality is achieved only when girls have equal access to education, healthcare, nutrition, and opportunity.

“A young girl in India can only be considered a truly equal citizen when she can freely aspire to achieve anything her male counterpart can and receive the same quality of support and resources,” she stated.

She stressed that the odds of being born, surviving, and succeeding should not depend on gender.

The Grim Reality of India’s Sex Ratio

Justice Nagarathna pointed to alarming data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), which showed that India’s child sex ratio improved only marginally—from 914 girls per 1,000 boys in 2011 to 929 in recent years. However, in several states, the situation has worsened, indicating the persistence of female infanticide and foeticide.

She lamented that the first obstacle a girl faces in India is often the act of being born itself, reflecting deep-rooted cultural and social biases.

Nutrition and Health: The Foundation of Equality

As Chairperson of the Supreme Court’s Juvenile Justice Committee, Justice Nagarathna underscored that nutrition is non-negotiable for the upliftment of girls. She warned that in many households, girls continue to receive lesser or lower-quality food than their brothers.

While praising initiatives like the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Anaemia Mukt Bharat, and POSHAN Abhiyan, she stressed that malnutrition in early childhood leads to lifelong consequences, impairing girls’ physical and cognitive development.

“Without proper nourishment, all other efforts to uplift the girl child may be futile,” she said.

Child Marriage: Progress and Persistent Challenges

Justice Nagarathna acknowledged progress in combating child marriage, citing NFHS data that reflects a steady decline over the past fifteen years. She credited this improvement to combined policy reforms and community engagement under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and India’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

However, she called for region-specific, holistic solutions to tackle local socio-economic factors perpetuating early marriage, noting that the problem remains deeply entrenched in rural and economically weaker regions.

Education: The Key to Empowerment and National Growth

Highlighting the strong link between education and empowerment, Justice Nagarathna argued that for India to truly emerge as a global superpower, it must prioritize the education of girls.

She welcomed the data showing increased school attendance among girls aged 15–17, but expressed concern over high dropout rates post-secondary education.

“Girls are often forced to sacrifice their education for their brothers or due to social pressures. Education must be free of stereotypes and capable of shaping responsible, independent citizens,” she asserted.

Justice for Girls: Strengthening Legal and Institutional Support

Justice Nagarathna emphasized the need to expand trauma-informed and child-sensitive procedures in courts and police stations. Despite numerous cases of human trafficking and violence against women, conviction rates remain shockingly low.

Between 2018 and 2022, only 4.8% of individuals arrested for human trafficking were convicted, despite a large number of charge sheets being filed. She called for strengthened judicial and enforcement mechanisms to protect vulnerable women and children.

The Importance of Sex Ratio in a Developing Nation

The sex ratio is a critical indicator of social progress and gender equality. A healthy balance ensures inclusive economic growth, social harmony, and better demographic stability. Nations with skewed sex ratios often face long-term challenges, including:

  • Increased gender-based violence and human trafficking

  • Social instability due to marriage imbalances

  • Reduced participation of women in the workforce and policymaking

Countries like India must recognize that women’s empowerment is not a welfare issue—it’s an economic imperative.

Policy Imperatives for States

To address worsening sex ratios and gender-based disparities, states must adopt multi-dimensional strategies that include:

  1. Strict enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act.

  2. Incentive-based programs promoting girl education and healthcare, such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.

  3. Awareness campaigns to challenge deep-rooted patriarchal attitudes.

  4. Enhanced nutritional programs targeted specifically at adolescent girls.

  5. Improved law enforcement and conviction rates in crimes against women and children.

Are Crimes Against Women Hindering India’s Growth?

The persistent rise in crimes against women reflects not just a social crisis, but an economic barrier. When women feel unsafe or excluded, their participation in education, employment, and public life declines — directly impacting India’s GDP and global competitiveness.

Gender equality, therefore, is not a moral obligation alone; it is a strategic necessity for a rapidly developing nation like India.

Conclusion: Building a Nation Where Every Girl Thrives

Justice BV Nagarathna’s address serves as both a reminder and a roadmap. India’s growth story cannot be complete if half its population continues to face systemic disadvantages from birth.

The focus must now shift from survival to empowerment, from policy to implementation, and from awareness to accountability. Only then can India claim to be a truly inclusive, progressive, and equitable democracy.


Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India

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