Image courtesy: The Hindu
In a first, a visually challenged person has qualified in the Kerala Judicial Service Examination, 2025 held for the selection of Civil Judges (Junior Division) in the Kerala Judicial Service. Thanya Nathan C., hailing from Kannur district, has topped the Merit list of persons with benchmark disabilities.
Thanya's success story as a completely blind person is truly inspiring and gives hope to others who face similar struggles in life. LiveLaw interacted with Thanya and we are proud to share her story to our readers.
Her professional career as an advocate started in August 2024, when she enrolled herself in the Bar. Since then, 24-year-old Thanya has been actively practicing in Kannur for the last one-and-a-half years with her senior, Advocate Sumar Kumar K.
Thanya said she started preparing for the examination after it was notified and never did any pre-preparation. She prepared for the exam without any coaching and undertook self-study in the preliminary and main rounds. Since she did not have any experience giving interviews, Thanya took support from Advocate Santhosh, who is practicing in Thiruvananthapuram.
She emphasised the importance of court practice and told that even while attempting the judicial service exam, she tried not to break away from the courtroom and continued practicing.
She recalled being tensed at the beginning of her professional journey about whether the courtroom would be acceptable but that it turned out not to be an issue since everyone was very inclusive and accommodative. She expressed that she was very happy professionally since all the judicial officers were really supportive and tried to create a good atmosphere in the court room.
She also talked about some of the hurdles that she faced in the courtroom, the main one being advocates not being able to use gadgets inside. Since at present, paperless courts are still not fully implemented in Kerala, she had to prepare notes in Braille to argue her cases. Though she did not feel this was an issue, she felt that if technology could be more efficiently brought into the courtrooms, this would ensure maximum independence.
She recalled that in her college life also, she had to rely on technology a lot and felt that her struggle would have been eased if there were accessible study materials available.
We also asked about the welcoming changes that she witnessed during her practice as an advocate and her reply was that though there were not many changes in the Bar, she has viewed many positive changes happening in the Bench. She particularly referred to the new mode of taking evidence, through voice-to-text, a move she called a "revolution" from the older practice of hand written ones. She felt that this would ensure a level-playing field and equality.
To candidates with disabilities that are preparing to take the judicial service examination, she has conveyed a message. Thanya says that with consistent efforts and hard work, one can make this achievement but would need to put in more effort compared to persons without disabilities. She also asks them to prepare towards their goals to the best of their abilities .
Thanya says that during her journey, she received support from her parents, and family. It was her senior, who had encouraged her and asked her to apply for the judicial examination.
As a parting message, she says changes should come and nothing is permanent. Since judiciary must reach even the last person, it should be able to accommodate all persons, especially marginalised and oppressed ones.
In March last year, the Supreme Court had held that a person cannot be denied consideration for recruitment in the judicial service merely because of their physical disabilities.