https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Anchal_BhatejaAnchal Bhateja - Revision history2026-08-20T12:22:33ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anchal_Bhateja&diff=486402&oldid=prevRowenaGlenny3: Added some details more to come2026-03-22T18:36:11Z<p>Added some details more to come</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian lawyer and disability rights advocate}}<br />
'''Anchal Bhateja''' is an Indian lawyer and disability rights advocate. She is recognised as the first blind woman to argue a case before the [[Supreme Court of India]] in June 2025.<ref name="TLI">{{cite news |title=Aanchal Bhateja Becomes First Blind Woman To Argue In Supreme Court, Challenges Uttarakhand Judge Exams Disability Exclusion |url=https://thelogicalindian.com/aanchal-bhateja-becomes-first-blind-woman-to-argue-in-supreme-court-challenges-uttarakhand-judge-exams-disability-exclusion/ |work=The Logical Indian |access-date=23 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=SC gets its first visually challenged woman lawyer from Bathinda |url=https://newsarenaindia.com/states/sc-gets-its-first-visually-challenged-woman-lawyer-from-bathinda/52431 |work=News Arena India |date=5 August 2025 |access-date=30 August 2025}}</ref><br />
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== Early life and education ==<br />
Bhateja was born in India. She was born with low vision, which worsened over time due to [[retinopathy of prematurity]]. She lost her eyesight completely before her Class X board examinations.<ref name="BetterIndia">{{cite news |title= 'I Was The 1st Blind Student in My College': Lawyer On Improving Digital Inclusion For The Blind |url=https://thebetterindia.com/351275/screen-readers-for-blind-visually-impaired-digital-accessibility-for-persons-with-disability-global-accessibility-day-lawyer/ |work=The Better India |access-date=23 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bathinda-born Anchal is SC’s first visually impaired woman lawyer |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/bathinda/bathinda-born-anchal-is-scs-first-visually-impaired-woman-lawyer/ |work=The Tribune |date=5 August 2025 |access-date=30 August 2025}}</ref> <br />
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Despite the challenges, she topped her Class XII examinations and qualified for the [[Common Law Admission Test]] (CLAT). She went on to study law at the [[National Law School of India University]] (NLSIU), Bengaluru, becoming the institution’s first visually impaired student. She graduated with a B.A. LL.B. (Honours) degree in 2023.<ref name="Vidhi">{{cite web |title=Anchal Bhateja |url=https://vidhilegalpolicy.in/team/anchal-bhateja/ |access-date=23 August 2025 |publisher=[[Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy]]}}</ref><br />
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== Career ==<br />
Bhateja initially worked in the Tech Disputes Team at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. before joining the [[Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy]] as a research fellow.<ref name="Vidhi" /> <br />
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On 6 June 2025, she became the first blind woman to argue before the Supreme Court of India. The case involved a challenge to the [[Uttarakhand]] Judicial Service recruitment policy, which excluded persons with blindness and other disabilities from eligibility under reserved categories for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). The matter was heard by Justices Sanjay Karol and S. C. Sharma.<ref name="TLI" /><br />
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== Advocacy ==<br />
Bhateja has consistently advocated for disability rights and digital accessibility. She relies on assistive technologies such as screen readers, audiobooks, and Braille in her legal work.<ref name="BetterIndia" /> <br />
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She also mentors visually impaired law students and has contributed articles to publications including ''[[Deccan Herald]]'', ''[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]'', and ''The Leaflet''. Her advocacy extends to issues of inclusivity, accessibility, and queer rights.<ref>{{cite news<br />
|title=Meet Anchal Bhateja, First Blind Woman Advocate To Argue A Supreme Court Case<br />
|url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/anchal-bhateja-supreme-court-of-india-blind-woman-advocate-9356017<br />
|work=SheThePeople.TV<br />
|date=12 June 2025<br />
|access-date=30 August 2025}}</ref><br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhateja, Anchal}}<br />
[[Category:Indian lawyers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian disability rights activists]]<br />
[[Category:Indian women lawyers]]<br />
[[Category:Blind lawyers]]<br />
[[Category:Jat]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]</div>RowenaGlenny3