Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court Ms. Sonia Gokani said that a judge, whether female or male, should be addressed as 'Sir' instead of 'Milord' or 'Your Honor'. The bench of Chief Justice Sonia Gokani and Justice Sandeep N. Bhatt's was hearing a case during which, a lawyers were continuously addressing her as 'Your Ladyship'. On this, Justice Gokani interrupted him and said that he (advocate) should address both the judges as 'Sir'.

After being interrupted by Chief Justice Sonia Gokani, the advocate immediately apologized and said that he had no intention of addressing just one judge. The lawyer said that he should have said 'Your Lordships' instead of 'Your Ladyship'.

After the lawyer apologized, Chief Justice Sonia Gokani said that many times we address him as 'Your Lordship' or 'Maillard'. But instead of this we should address as sir or madam, this is the most appropriate way which is also gender neutral.

On this remark, Chief Justice Sonia Gokani shared an anecdote from the National Judicial Academy. She told that once there was a discussion in the National Judicial Academy as to what the judges should be addressed as because 'Your Lord' sounds feudal in a way. On this, former Chief Justice SJ Mukhopadhyay had said that now all the advocates have started addressing him as 'Sir'.