Deaf lawyer Sarah Sunny

1. Due to costs: Deaf lawyers or attorneys require a sign language interpreter. In India, interpreters charge for every hour of work, and after 30 minutes, they require a break. This means, in practice, you need to hire two interpreters, which incurs significant costs. In this case, the Supreme Court covered the interpreter costs, marking the first instance in which the Supreme Court of India paid for sign language interpretation.
2. The second issue is the lack of specialized legal signs in Indian Sign Language and interpreters proficient in sign language, especially in the field of law.

Should Judges Know Sign Language?

The president of the Bar Council of India’s Supreme Court said something interesting:

“Even judges should have at least a basic understanding of sign language so that sign language interpreters do not intentionally or unintentionally mislead the court. Judges don’t have to be experts, but they should have a basic understanding.”

Who Is Sarah Sunny?

Sarah Sunny is deaf. She is actively involved in activities for the deaf and is a member of the Human Rights Law Network, where she contributes to the fight for justice and equal rights for all. Sarah Sunny emphasizes that everything she has achieved would not have been possible without sign language. She also admits that the opportunity to appear before the Supreme Court in India was a dream come true and hopes to inspire other talented deaf individuals.

Sources:

• The Statesman | Who is Sarah Sunny? Hearing-impaired lawyer appears in SC hearing
• Outlook India | Meet Sarah Sunny, India’s Only Practising Deaf Lawyer
• India.com | Who Is Sarah Sunny, India’s First Practising Lawyer With Hearing Impairment? Here’s The Story Of Her Inspiring Journey