At a recent panel discussion titled "Disability Rights & Beyond" hosted by Mission Accessibility, former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud opened up about a deeply personal challenge—finding an accessible home in Delhi for his two daughters, both of whom have special needs.

With the deadline to vacate his official residence looming on April 30, Justice Chandrachud shared, “We have two beautiful daughters who have specific needs, but it has been difficult to find a house that accommodates them. Every public space reflects the same inaccessibility. For too long, our society has kept the disabled under the curtain of ignorance and suppression.”

Justice Chandrachud and his wife, Kalpana Das, adopted their daughters, Priyanka and Mahi, while he was serving at the Allahabad High Court. Both girls live with nemaline myopathy, a rare genetic disorder affecting muscle strength. Recalling their early days, he said, “Initially, they were just bones and flesh. Their biological mother had given up on them, believing they were a lost cause.”

He described taking them through a series of “intrusive and painful” medical tests. One moment that stayed with him was when his elder daughter, visibly worried, kept repeating, “I don't want my sister to go through this.”

Yet despite the struggles, he credited his daughters for reshaping their worldview. “They’ve introduced us to veganism, and they’ve made us more respectful toward animals and nature,” he said.

The event, inaugurated by Advocate Rahul Bajaj, co-founder of Mission Accessibility, served as a platform for deep reflection on the rights and realities of persons with disabilities. Bajaj, himself visually impaired, once wrote to the then-CJI as a Rhodes Scholar expressing his interest in working with him. “I wondered why someone would leave such a prestigious opportunity to work with me, but my time with him was enlightening,” Justice Chandrachud said.

Drawing from his judicial experience, he highlighted the long-lasting ripple effects of court decisions. “There are ten reasons to deny relief, but we need just one good reason to grant it.”

He also shared his initiative to introduce Mitti Café, a social enterprise that creates inclusive employment spaces for persons with disabilities, to the Supreme Court premises. “We wanted to challenge the perception that disability is a limitation. These individuals can thrive as service providers, not just recipients.” This move later inspired the President of India to launch a Mitti Café at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Speaking on the judicial approach to disability rights, he emphasized the need for empathy on benches. “Disability law isn’t like IBC matters. It cuts across society. We need judges who understand that.”

He cited the Supreme Court's evolving stance—once denying blind individuals the right to become judges, a position it later reversed—as evidence of positive change. “What began as an isolated instance is now becoming a movement. Persons with disabilities are entitled to rights—not concessions.”

Justice Chandrachud also called for a revision of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, especially in light of the shrinking public sector. “We must include sanctions, encourage voluntary compliance, and set clear time schedules.”

On mental health, he praised the Mental Healthcare Act for decriminalizing attempted suicide but warned that urban environments and professions like law are under severe mental strain. “We must accept the reality. Suggesting a 70-hour work week does no service to a labour surplus economy. One leaves, another replaces them—it’s a toxic cycle.”

He also urged the government to engage lawyers with disabilities beyond pro bono work, and to harness technology for better accessibility. Among his proposals were mandatory accessibility audits for public spaces and teaching sign language in schools.

The event also marked the launch of Zen Access Law Associates, a pioneering law firm founded by Rahul Bajaj and Amar Jain. This for-profit firm, led by lawyers with disabilities, will specialize in corporate law, intellectual property, and litigation, while maintaining an open-door policy.

Justice Chandrachud concluded with a call to action: “The court is just one avenue for change. Let’s not underestimate the power of civil society. We need inclusive platforms now more than ever.