Indian nun honored for writing book on women laws

An Indian nun and advocate at the Supreme Court have been awarded for writing the first book exclusively on women's laws.

Supreme Court Bar Association presented the Certificate of Honour to Sister Jessy Kurian given by the Chief Justice of India N V Ramana on the Law Day function for authoring book title as "Women: Laws and Judicial Pronouncements."

She is the first Catholic nun in India to receive recognition. 

"I am filled with contentment and happiness when being honored by the Chief Justice of India for authoring the book 'Women: Laws and Judicial Pronouncements,'" said Sister Kurain, a leading human rights activist.

The function was held on November 26 on the Indian Constitution Day in the Supreme Court in New Delhi. 

The book was published in 2009 by Indian Social Institute, released by Altamas Kabir, the Supreme Court Judge, giving the first copy to Ms. Sheila Dikshit, then Chief Minister of Delhi in Constitution Club Delhi, when the nun was a member of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions. 

The book contains all the laws related to women and the landmark judgments on each law passed by various High Courts and Supreme Court of India.

Its purpose is to educate the women, particularly their rights and legal remedies when they are violated, said the nun, a member of the St. Anne's Providence. 

"Receiving a certificate of honor not only gave me happiness but a recognition and encouragement to spread legal literacy through writing books," added Sister Jessy, an educator-turned-lawyer.

The book is part of her legal literacy program, an objective of her NGO' Citizens Rights Trust' to empower women. 

She provides legal assistance to marginalized women in India.

Sr Jessy has written 17 booklets, three books, and more than 300 articles on women and social, legal issues and published in Indian Currents, The New Leader, and Matters India.