“If a deaf person is coming to court, people are shocked. They think, ‘oh these people also [can come to court]!’ These are real human beings, not aliens standing in a courtroom. It’s very normal. Interact with them directly. As a sign language interpreter, I am not a decision-maker. I convey the meaning and their responses. But sometimes people just decide among themselves without giving a chance to the deaf person to participate…”

Courts in India have begun to recognise the need for linguistic and communicative accessibility for diverse users. From the Supreme Court Of India acknowledging the importance of interpreters in Constitution Bench hearings, to High Courts such as Delhi and Karnataka issuing directions for engaging sign language interpreters, the #judiciary is gradually taking steps towards improving inclusivity. However, there is still a long way to go for truly accessible courts.

In Episode 5 of JALDI’s new video series, “Designing Justice”, Priyanka Kalyan, a trained Indian Sign Language interpreter, reminisces on her experiences interpreting for deaf persons in courts. She highlights the need for the system to provide adequate resources and support for deaf persons and interpreters for breaking communication barriers, and calls for a change in mindset to ensure that persons with disabilities are truly made to feel welcome in the legal system.