Women

This Deaf Indian Woman Has Become The First Lawyer To Argue At India’s Supreme Court Using A Sign Language Interpreter

28-year-old had been denied an interpreter during trials because the courts thought an interpreter would not have the legal knowledge to properly interpret legal cases.

Isha Jain

May 14, 2024 — 3 min read

This deaf Indian woman has become the first lawyer to argue at India’s Supreme Court using a sign language interpreter.

Deaf indian lawyer sarah sunny — *Sarah Sunny becomes the first lawyer to argue with a sign language interpreter at India's Supreme Court*

28-year-old Sarah Sunny has been practicing law for at least two years.

sarah sunny first indian deaf advocate supreme court — *Sunny has been practicing law for at least 2 years*

However, she had been denied an interpreter during trials because the courts thought an interpreter would not have the legal knowledge to properly interpret legal cases.

*In the past, Sunny had to submit her arguments in writing because the court denied to have an interpreter during trials*

Instead, Sunny had to submit her arguments in writing.

sarah sunny advocate with her family — *India's Supreme Court accepted Sunny's request to use a sign language interpreter*

But in September 2023, India’s Supreme Court allowed Sunny to argue using a sign language interpreter.

sarah sunny arguing supreme court sign language interpreter — *The sign language interpreter was assigned as Sunny's interpreter*

The court said it was impressed with how quickly the interpreter relayed Sunny’s argument and assigned her an interpreter, saying it “should have happened long ago”.

sarah sunny hearing karnataka high court — *India's Supreme Court accepted Sunny's request to use a sign language interpreter*

Sunny said she hopes to inspire other people with hearing impairments and make the legal system more inclusive of deaf people.

Sarah Sunny first deaf advocate India's supreme court — *Sunny hopes to inspire more with hearing impairments and make the legal system more friendlier for deaf people.*

Now the Delhi high court has asked the Association of Sign Language Interpreters India to develop regulations and procedures for future interpreters.

This Deaf Indian Woman Has Become The First Lawyer To Argue At India’s Supreme Court Using A Sign Language Interpreter

Isha Jain

You Might Also Be Interested In

Read more

Hundreds Of People In Taiwan Held A Huge Protest March To Mark One Year Of Israel's Genocide In Gaza

Mass Graves With Thousands Of People Killed By Al-Assad’s Regime Are Being Discovered Across Syria

Gisèle Pelicot Said She Never Regretted A Public Trial, Telling Other Victims, "We Share The Same Battle"

Gisèle Pelicot’s Ex-Husband And The 50 Men He Invited To Rape Her Have All Been Found Guilty