Meet Anchal Bhateja, First Blind Woman Advocate To Argue A Supreme Court Case

Anchal Bhateja made history as the first visually impaired female advocate to argue a case in the Supreme Court of India on June 6. The graduate of the National Law School Institute of India (NLSIU) is also a disability rights activist, championing greater accessibility and inclusivity in the Indian legal system. She is one of the few advocates in India living with a disability.

Anchal Bhateja's Story

Bhateja lost her vision due to birth complications and developed Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). Her early academic years were marked by challenges like a lack of accessible reading material or formal accommodations. She relied on assistive technologies like screen readers, audiobooks, and Braille to study case law and legislation.

Bhateja cleared the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) and became the first visually impaired student at Bengaluru's National Law School of India University (NLSIU). Bhetaja graduated with a B.A.LLB Honours in 2023. Her journey as a Supreme Court advocate was marked by years of determination and hard work. 

In an interview with Bharat Speaks, she said, “This is not just about me. This is about proving that disability is not inability. And that the law must be practiced by everyone it claims to protect.”

Besides her practice, Bhateja also mentors blind law students and disability rights litigants. She is also an accessibility advocate, queer-rights advocate, musician, orator, and columnist. She has written for publications like Deccan Herald, The Wire, and The Leaflet. According to Vidhi Legal Policy, her hobbies include Urdu literature and stand-up comedy.

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Similar story: India's first hearing-impaired lawyer

Sarah Sunny is India's first practising lawyer with a hearing impairment. The native of Kottayam, Kerala, pursued a Bachelor's degree in law from St. Joseph's University in Bengaluru. She chose the legal profession not only out of interest but also to encourage others who are hearing impaired. In September 2023, Sunny scripted history when she became the first hearing-impaired lawyer to argue a case in the Supreme Court of India. She is an active member of the Advocacy of the National Association of Deaf and the Human Rights Law Network.