Kerala’s Thanya Nathan Becomes State’s First Completely Blind Judge After Topping 2025 Civil Judge Exam
Nation’s First Blind Woman Judge: Thanya Nathan Tops Kerala Judicial Exam: In a landmark achievement for India’s judiciary, 24-year-old Thanya Nathan has made history by topping the 2025 Civil Judge (Junior Division) examination in Kerala. Despite being 100% blind, Nathan secured first place in the merit list for persons with benchmark disabilities, paving the way for her to become Kerala’s first completely blind judge.
Nathan, a law graduate from Kannur University in 2024, began preparing for the judicial service examination soon after enrolling as a lawyer the same year. Balancing legal practice and rigorous exam preparation, she says she never felt overwhelmed by managing both responsibilities. Instead, her journey was shaped by determination, discipline, and a strong belief in her capabilities.
Her success also follows a crucial 2025 ruling by the Supreme Court of India, which clarified that blindness cannot be a disqualification for candidates seeking entry into judicial services. The judgment opened doors for visually impaired aspirants, ensuring equal opportunity in the recruitment process.
“When the notification came, I applied for the exam. Fortunately, the Supreme Court ruled that people with visual impairments should never be discriminated against in the Judicial Service Exam. This decision truly paved the way for me,” Nathan said, reflecting on her journey.
However, the road was not without challenges. One of the biggest hurdles she faced was access to study materials. While sighted students have unrestricted access to books and printed resources, blind students often depend on limited digital or audio materials. Nathan pointed out that accessible study resources remain scarce, making exam preparation far more demanding for visually impaired candidates.
“Kerala Gets Its First Completely Blind Judge”
Despite these obstacles, she describes the judicial recruitment process as fair and transparent. She believes accessibility must extend beyond infrastructure to include a shift in societal mindset. “We can build infrastructure, but unless people adopt a broader perspective, it won’t work,” she said, emphasizing the need for inclusivity across all spheres.
With this achievement, Nathan becomes India’s second completely blind judge after Brahmanand Sharma, who made history in Rajasthan in 2019. Her success stands as a powerful testament to perseverance and progressive judicial reform.
As she prepares to don the robes of a judge, Thanya Nathan’s story sends a strong message to aspiring lawyers with disabilities: barriers can be broken, and the judiciary belongs to all who dare to dream.
