In A First, Supreme Court To Hear Deaf Lawyer's Plea For Court-Appointed Sign Language Interpreter

In a move aimed at improving accessibility and inclusivity within the Indian judicial system, the Supreme Court Registry is set to consider tomorrow an application requesting a court-appointed Indian Sign Language (ISL) interpreter to assist deaf advocate, Sarah Sunny. The application has been filed by Advocate-on-Record Sanchita Ain, who is Sunny's senior in the profession. Notably, Ain had previously arranged for the presence of an interpreter, Saurav Roychowdhury, to translate legal proceedings before the CJI's bench for Sunny.

In an earlier conversation with Live Law, Advocate Ain had underscored the financial and logistical challenges that junior lawyers and newcomers to the legal profession often faced when attempting to secure the services of interpreters. She had explained that interpreters frequently charged by the hour and necessitated breaks after every 30-minute session. Consequently, to ensure a deaf lawyer's understanding of a case lasting an hour or more, two interpreters had to be employed, each billing on an hourly basis. This, she had stated, caused a significant financial burden on any lawyer needing an interpreter.

Taking a stride toward addressing these challenges, Ain has now formally filed an application with the Supreme Court Registrar under Order V Rule 11 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013. This rule empowers the Registrar to exercise authority concerning applications for the appointment and approval of translators or interpreters.

Historically, the Supreme Court has never appointed an interpreter at its own expense.

However, the present Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, has consistently championed the cause of equal access to justice. He had initiated a call for a comprehensive accessibility audit of the Supreme Court premises just last year. The objective was to enhance the accessibility of the justice system and gain a better understanding of the unique challenges confronted by individuals with disabilities when interacting with the Supreme Court of India. Even during open court sessions, CJI Chandrachud has voiced his mission to transform courts across the country into welcoming spaces for lawyers and litigants with disabilities.

Thus, the decision of the Registrar on the application for a court-appointed interpreter for Sunny will certainly point towards the direction courts are headed at, in enhancing accessibility to the courts for individuals with disabilities.