Karnataka High Court Directs Registry To Engage Certified Interpreter To Assist Lawyer With Speech & Hearing Impairment In Court

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday directed its Registry to secure the services of a Certified interpreter through the Ministry of Information and Technology to assist Advocate Sarah Sunny, who is suffering from speech and hearing impairment to make her arguments in court.

A single judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna said “The counsel submits that she is representing the wife and she is physically disabled in as much as she suffers from hearing and speech impairment and is wanting to represent the wife. In the light of the advocate wanting to represent the wife and the disability. I deem it appropriate to direct the Registry to secure a Certified interpreter to the petitioner through MEITY, on the next date of hearing on 8th April (Monday) at 2.30 pm.”

Additional Solicitor General Arvind Kamath presented the case of the petitioner and stated that she will need an interpreter, who is a Certified Interpreter, possibly from Doordarshan.

Advocate Sara is representing the complainant who had lodged an offence under sections 498(A), 504, 506 of IPC read with Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act against her husband, against whom a lookout circular had been issued.

The accused husband approached the court seeking quashing of the case and an interim order of stay of the lookout circular. It was claimed that he is an employee of Blackrock, Edinburgh Branch, Scotland and he would lose his employment, if he would not return to Scotland. He further submitted that he was only an Overseas Citizen of India card holder and holds citizenship of the United Kingdom.

The wife has prayed for the arrest of the husband who left India based on an order passed by the Magistrate court which permitted him to travel on the basis of an application filed seeking revocation of LOC and produce him before the jurisdictional magistrate.

Further direction is sought on the Union of India to issue detailed guidelines regarding the procedure to be followed when a person against whom a look-out circular is being issued, arrives in the territory of India.

Appearance: Advocate Ravindranath K, Advocate Sarah Sunny for Petitioners.

ASG Arvind Kamath a/w DSG Shanthi Bhushan H for Respondents.

Case No: WP 6227/2024 c/w WP 5800/2024.