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.[1][2]
Early life and education[edit | edit source]
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.[3][4]
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.[5]
Career[edit | edit source]
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.[5]
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.[1]
Advocacy[edit | edit source]
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.[3]
She also mentors visually impaired law students and has contributed articles to publications including Deccan Herald, The Wire, and The Leaflet. Her advocacy extends to issues of inclusivity, accessibility, and queer rights.[6]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Aanchal Bhateja Becomes First Blind Woman To Argue In Supreme Court, Challenges Uttarakhand Judge Exams Disability Exclusion". The Logical Indian. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ↑ "SC gets its first visually challenged woman lawyer from Bathinda". News Arena India. 5 August 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "'I Was The 1st Blind Student in My College': Lawyer On Improving Digital Inclusion For The Blind". The Better India. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ↑ "Bathinda-born Anchal is SC's first visually impaired woman lawyer". The Tribune. 5 August 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Anchal Bhateja". Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ↑ "Meet Anchal Bhateja, First Blind Woman Advocate To Argue A Supreme Court Case". SheThePeople.TV. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.