Former CJI DY Chandrachud Attends Launch of India’s First Law Firm Led Exclusively by Lawyers with Disabilities
Former Chief Justice of India, Dr. DY Chandrachud, was present at the formal inauguration of Zen Access Law Associates—India’s first law firm solely run by lawyers with disabilities. The firm will cater to clients in the domains of corporate and contractual law, intellectual property rights, service law, and disability rights.
The launch event included a dialogue between Justice Chandrachud and Mission Accessibility co-founders, Advocates Rahul Bajaj and Amar Jain, in front of an audience of over 350 individuals, predominantly persons with disabilities. Mission Accessibility is a legal initiative providing pro bono and low-cost legal services to persons with disabilities and marginalized communities. Over the past year, it has represented clients in 42 matters across various judicial forums.
During the session, Justice Chandrachud addressed eight selected questions submitted by persons with disabilities, covering themes such as enhancing the statutory authority of disability commissioners, expediting hearings in disability-related cases, and broadening the scope of legal work available to lawyers with disabilities beyond rights-based and voluntary sectors.
He underscored the need to revisit provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, advocating for the empowerment of commissioners with binding adjudicatory powers, enforcement deadlines, and the ability to levy monetary penalties for non-compliance. He also recommended tax incentives to encourage adherence to accessibility standards.
On the issue of judicial delays, Justice Chandrachud opined that rather than forming a special bench, mainstreaming disability-related matters across all benches could be a more sustainable solution. He observed that the judiciary’s understanding of disability rights has significantly evolved, with increasing sensitivity and awareness.
Furthermore, he urged the Central government to include lawyers with disabilities in its panel counsel appointments. He also proposed the organization of a national-level conference involving key legal and administrative stakeholders—including Chief Justices of High Courts, law secretaries, and disability commissioners—to foster inclusive representation within the legal system.
Justice Chandrachud also shared a personal concern regarding the difficulty he has faced in securing an accessible residence in Delhi for his two daughters. He is scheduled to vacate his official residence by April 30.
