Chief Justice of India (CJI)-designate Justice Surya Kant has praised the Indian women’s cricket team for winning their first-ever World Cup title, describing the victory as a moment that reflects the broader rise of women across fields in India. Speaking at an event organised by the Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC) in New Delhi, he used the sporting triumph to underscore the importance of women’s full and equal participation in public life, decision-making, and national discourse. Justice Kant, who will assume office as the next Chief Justice of India on November 24, framed the World Cup win as both an inspiration and a reminder of how Indian women continue to redefine excellence.

In his address, Justice Kant said that women must occupy not only a place in institutional structures but must also be empowered to shape the direction, tone, and substance of those institutions. According to him, representation without influence is incomplete. He emphasised that women require space, respect, and parity to drive genuine change. The recent achievements of the Indian women’s cricket team, he said, mirror the growing assertion of women in journalism, governance, law, and other professions.

Justice Kant highlighted the symbolic power of the World Cup victory, achieved on November 2 in Navi Mumbai, where the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team defeated South Africa by 52 runs. After two earlier, heartbreaking losses in the finals in 2005 and 2017, India finally lifted the trophy for the first time. The judge said the win represents the persistence, resilience, and strategic brilliance that define women’s sports in India today. He added that such achievements send a message that excellence is not determined by gender, and that women athletes continue to inspire society through their determination and skill.

Turning to the IWPC, Justice Kant said the organisation itself was born from the belief that women should play a decisive role in shaping public institutions. He credited women journalists for transforming the media landscape over decades, particularly through reporting from complex and challenging environments, leading investigative teams, and expanding the range of stories covered by national newsrooms. According to him, women journalists have broadened public understanding of conflict, development, healthcare, education, gender justice, and social reform. Their work, he said, strengthens democratic participation by ensuring that national conversations reflect the lived experiences of diverse communities.

Justice Kant also underscored the significance of local reporting and community-based journalism, noting that women journalists often lead these efforts. Their engagement with regional languages, grassroots communities, and underrepresented groups has improved the reach and relevance of Indian media. He emphasised that journalism shaped by women often reveals deeper social complexities, adding depth and empathy to public debate.

However, Justice Kant noted that the evolving media environment—particularly with the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, deepfake technologies, and highly manipulable digital tools—poses serious new challenges. He warned that these technologies are increasingly weaponised against women journalists, whose public roles make them vulnerable to gendered attacks. Deepfakes, manipulated videos, doctored images, and targeted disinformation, he said, are used to humiliate, silence, or discredit women, thereby shrinking the diversity of voices in public discourse.

Justice Kant stressed that online harassment and intimidation directly threaten press freedom. When women journalists face digital abuse, their personal safety, professional credibility, and mental health are jeopardised. At a broader level, the exclusion or silencing of women weakens democratic processes and narrows the scope of public debate. He said that as a democracy committed to free expression and equality, India must treat online violence against women journalists as a serious institutional concern rather than a private burden borne by individuals.

To counter these threats, Justice Kant called for strong and coordinated safeguards across the media industry. He said news organisations must adopt stringent protocols for protecting employees from harassment, misuse of personal data, and digital manipulation. This includes establishing safe reporting mechanisms, ensuring prompt institutional responses to online threats, and integrating digital security training into newsroom practices. He suggested that women must be represented at every level of media organisations—from frontline reporting to editorial leadership, technology development, policy design, and regulatory oversight.

Justice Kant also encouraged the IWPC to lead efforts in developing training programmes on digital literacy, cybersecurity, and responsible technological use. He said that ethical standards for AI-generated content, image authentication, and information verification should be shaped proactively by media professionals rather than imposed reactively after harm has occurred.

He concluded by urging continuous solidarity in defending the values of journalism, equality, and constitutional rights. He reminded the audience that constitutional freedoms do not secure themselves; they require active engagement, vigilance, and collective responsibility. Women journalists, he said, are not merely participants in the media but are fundamental to shaping its direction and impact. Their contributions, he added, define the present and will continue to shape India’s future, inspiring new generations to imagine greater possibilities.

Justice Kant’s remarks positioned the World Cup victory not only as a sporting achievement but as a metaphor for the broader movement toward equity and empowerment. By linking women’s achievements in sports, journalism, and public life, he highlighted the interconnected nature of progress and reinforced the need for institutions to uphold dignity, safety, and equality as women continue to break barriers.