Marking it as a historic moment, the Supreme Court heard the arguments of the first deaf and mute lawyer. Advocate Sarah Sunny argued before Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud through sign language.
This groundbreaking moment shattered barriers for lawyers with physical challenges, granting them the opportunity to advocate for their cases effectively.
She participated in the online court proceedings through Indian Sign Language(ISL) Interpreter Saurav Roychowdhury.
Initially, the virtual courtroom moderator refused to permit the interpreter to give screen space to Sarah throughout the entire proceeding. Nevertheless, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud authorized both Sunny and Roychowdhury to be visible on the screen, affirming that the interpreter may certainly participate in the proceedings without any issue.
About Advocate Sarah Sunny
Sarah is a Bengaluru based lawyer. Her exceptional journey is defined by her groundbreaking role as India’s first Deaf Advocate. She has been promoting human rights and is an active member of the Human Rights Law Network where she ardently contributes to the cause of justice and equal rights for all.
Beyond her legal career, Sarah is deeply committed to championing the rights and well-being of the hearing-impaired community. Her advocacy extends to the National Association of Deaf Individuals where she plays a pivotal role in empowering and advocating for the community.
Sarah’s educational and professional path reflects her enduring passion for law and advocacy. She pursued her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at St. Joseph College of Law, a period that laid the foundation for her legal career.
Through diverse internship experiences, including roles at the Centre for Law and Policy Research and Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan in Bangalore, she gained invaluable insights into the legal world.
Before embarking on her legal studies, Sarah completed her Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) at Jyoti Nivas College, focusing on business law, accounting, and marketing. Her academic journey commenced at St. Claret Pre-University in India, where she studied economics, accounting, business, and computer science.
Throughout her educational and professional endeavors, Sarah has nurtured her passion for constitutional law, disability law, and human rights law. Her ultimate goal is to create a positive impact by helping individuals and aspiring legal professionals enter the field of law.
Sarah was the first deaf and mute advocate to argue before the Supreme Court while Advocate Saudamini Pethe was the first deaf lawyer in India who enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi.
