Professor Shamnad Basheer Influenced Many People's Lives, Was A Change Maker Par Excellence: Justice DY Chandrachud

Supreme Court judge Justice DY Chandrachud remembered Late Professor Shamnad Basheer as a "respected educator and a change maker par excellence who influenced the cause of many people's lives".

Justice Chandrachud was delivering the Third Professor Shamnad Basheer Memorial Lecture organized by LiveLaw on the topic "Making Disability Rights Real: Addressing Accessibility and More". The lecture can be watched here.

"To influence the cause of even a single person's life is a remarkable thing.  That Shamnad influenced the cause of so many people's lives, so positively, is nothing short of extraordinary," said Justice Chandrachud.

Justice Chandrachud also lauded the Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access (IDIA) initiative launched by Professor Shamnad to help marginalised students access legal education.

Speaking about IDIA, a trust founded by Basheer in 2010, Justice Chandrachud said that his initiative has the potential to transform the feudal structure of legal profession by democratising and making it inclusive.

"IDIA through its consistent efforts has attempted to remedy this systemic flaw and has succeeded in doing so. IDIA young students from marginalised communities for law entrance exams, secures funding for their legal education and mentors them through their 5 years at University," the Judge said. He highlighted that of the 86 IDIA students currently reading law in Universities across India, 15 are persons with disabilities.

"Shamnad and others working with IDIA organisational team have already put into action the theme of today's lecture, making disabilities rights real, addressing accessibility and more", he said.

Justice Chandrachud fondly remembered meeting Basheer four years ago at IDIA's annual conference where the judge was invited to deliver an address on law and story telling.

"In echoing his human abilities, he tasked me to speak on this deeply human subject of law and story telling. Through stories of justice and injustice, we attempted to weave a common vision," he added.

Speaking on the topic of disability rights, Justice Chandrachud said that when people encounter others with disabilities, there is a tendency to view them as being very different from able-bodied persons as being lesser than them.

He said "By this I mean that they are stereotyped as less capable and less intelligent than their abled bodied counterparts. The stereotypes that Persons With Disabilities are burdensome or are defenceless victims also prevail in society. The differences between abled bodied people and PwDs both real and perceived, give rise to immense stigmas in society."

"Children often bully their disabled classmates and friends and adults with disabilities too are not treated with respect or empathy. It is also rather unfortunate that abled bodied persons discriminate against PwDs and in many instances, commit acts of violence on them. The prevalence of these harmful stereotypes has pernicious effect and hinders access to educational scapes, public spaces, employment opportunities as well as to free and full participation in society," Justice Chandrachud said.

The Judge further said that despite various laws mandating disability-friendly infrastructure in public transport, Government and private buildings, hospitals, libraries and parks, such spaces continue to remain inaccessible for PwDs.

"It is incumbent on all institutions, be it governmental or private or all individuals to do their bit to ensure a more just world for persons with disabilities. Governmental or private entities must ensure that laws and policies are being complied with. This is of foremost importance. In our individual capacities, the least we can do is accord persons with disabilities the respect they deserve and to treat them as equals," he added.