Visually impaired Lawyer Suraj Singh has been appointed as the Government Advocate in the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The appointment came after the lawyer sat on a protest outside the high court demanding sound implementation of disability laws in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir by the administration.

Suraj Singh who hails from Jammu has been practising as a lawyer in Jammu despite his disabilities in vision. Singh’s appointment was passed in order by Anchal Sethi, secretary to the government. Suraj Singh’s appointment as the Government Lawyer will be for a period of one year and could be extended subjected to satisfactory performance in the court.

The press release issued by additional secretary Ashish Gupta said, “Government has taken a significant step which will go a long way in providing benefits to the specially-abled persons by upholding their dignity and removing discrimination by appointing Suraj Singh, a visually impaired Advocate as Government Advocate for defending Government cases before the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir at Jammu. There has been, since long, a persistent demand of specially-abled persons to give them due representation in Government assignments.”
It was Singh himself who was sitting on a prolonged Dharna outside the High Court in Jammu seeking enforcement of the rights recognised under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016. His plea was acknowledged by the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court when he demanded due representation for himself regarding his appointment as a Government Advocate concerning the Disabilities Act.
Source: https://www.opindia.com/2022/04/suraj-singh-only-visually-impaired-lawyer-jk-and-ladakh-high-court-appointed-government-advocate/