In a groundbreaking development last week, Sarah Sunny, aged 27, etched her name in history as India's inaugural deaf lawyer to present arguments in the Supreme Court. This milestone occurred in September when Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, in a remarkable move, permitted a sign language interpreter to assist her during proceedings.

On the 6th of October, the court took another unprecedented step by appointing its own interpreter for Sarah Sunny, marking a historic first for the court. Chief Justice Chandrachud even suggested the idea of having interpreters for constitution bench hearings to ensure inclusivity.

Legal experts and observers anticipate that Sarah Sunny's presence in the apex court will foster greater inclusivity in the Indian legal system, addressing the needs of the deaf community. Senior lawyer Menaka Guruswamy hailed this moment as "truly historic and momentous."

Sanchita Ain, Sarah Sunny's colleague, expressed optimism about the long-term impact of her work, anticipating that it would inspire more deaf students to pursue law, ultimately making the legal system more accessible.

Hailing from Bengaluru, Sarah Sunny has practiced law for two years. In lower courts in her city, she wasn't allowed an interpreter, compelling her to submit written arguments due to concerns about interpreters lacking legal knowledge.

While Saurav Roychowdhury, her initial interpreter, didn't have a legal background, he had experience translating for legal professionals and students. However, no Indian sign language interpreter is currently trained in legal terminology.

Sarah Sunny shared her pride in breaking stereotypes, emphasizing that her journey could serve as inspiration for others with hearing disabilities.

Sarah was born alongside her twin sister Maria Sunny and brother Pratik Kuruvilla, all of whom are deaf. Their parents were determined to provide them with an inclusive education, even though finding an accommodating school was challenging.

In class, Sarah relied on lip reading and support from friends. She pursued law at St. Joseph's College in Bengaluru, passing the bar exam in 2021 to become an advocate.

Experts note that stigma and a lack of court interpreters have hindered deaf individuals from pursuing legal careers in India.

The Delhi High Court set a precedent in April when it allowed deaf lawyer Saudamini Pethe to appear with an interpreter. In September, the high court announced plans to appoint its own interpreters, also seeking input from the Association of Sign Language Interpreters India (ASLI) for interpreter protocols.

Efforts are underway to create a legal thesaurus in Indian sign language to aid deaf lawyers and litigants.

Saurav Roychowdhury believes this court decision will highlight the equal rights of the deaf under the law, as there are approximately 18 million deaf or hard of hearing individuals in India.

This move is seen as a blessing and a barrier remover by Ranjini Ramanujam, who is deaf by birth and works in IT, highlighting the Supreme Court's role in giving a voice to the deaf community and setting an example for other organizations to follow.