Overview The push for Supreme Court to provide continuous ISL interpretation has hit practical road‑blocks. After a landmark hearing in September 2023 where a deaf lawyer could follow proceedings via a live video feed, advocates report that systematic barriers persist, making courtroom access for hearing‑impaired professionals uneven and cumbersome. Key Developments In September 2023 , Advocate-on-Record Sanchita Ain petitioned a bench headed by former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud to keep the ISL interpreter’s video feed visible throughout the hearing for advocate Sarah Sunny . Despite the initial success, subsequent requests for interpreters have been described as “tedious” and often denied, forcing deaf lawyers to rely on live transcription, which they consider inadequate. In 2024 , Ms. Sunny was asked to leave a Bengaluru courtroom even though she wore a lawyer’s gown and had arranged her own interpreter, highlighting institutional resistance. Ms. Sunny’s participation in events like “Justice Unplugged” (a collaboration between The Hindu and VIT Chennai) depends on prior confirmation of live interpretation services. Important Facts Access to legal spaces for deaf professionals often hinges on advance confirmation of interpretation services. Judges and court staff frequently lack awareness of sign‑language services, leading to repeated explanations by deaf advocates. Live transcription cannot substitute for ISL interpretation due to differences in language structure and real‑time nuance. Accessibility remains a constitutional right, yet courtrooms are still largely non‑accessible for persons with disabilities. Ms. Ain is developing a legal thesaurus to address terminology gaps. UPSC Relevance Understanding the challenges faced by deaf lawyers touches upon multiple UPSC syllabus areas: the constitutional guarantee of disability right (GS2), the functioning and reforms of the Supreme Court (GS2), and broader themes of inclusive governance and ethical administration (GS4). Way Forward Institutionalize mandatory ISL interpreter presence in all higher courts through clear guidelines from the Ministry of Law and Justice. Conduct regular sensitisation workshops for judges, court staff, and lawyers on disability rights and sign‑language protocols. Adopt technology‑enabled solutions, such as real‑time video‑relay interpreting platforms, to reduce logistical delays. Accelerate the creation and dissemination of the ISL legal thesaurus to standardise legal terminology for deaf practitioners. Monitor compliance through periodic audits and a grievance redressal mechanism dedicated to accessibility issues. Embedding these measures will help transform courtroom accessibility from a sporadic accommodation into a routine constitutional guarantee.