Thanya Nathan has become the first visually challenged person to crack Kerala's judiciary exams.

Nathan ranked first in the list of persons with disabilities in the Civil Judges (Junior Division) exams.

The 100% visually challenged candidate graduated with first rank in LLB from Kannur University.

She practised as a lawyer in Taliparamba in Kannur district before deciding to try her hand at the judiciary examinations.

Nathan victory comes less than a year after the Supreme Court delivered a landmark verdict holding that visually impaired candidates are eligible for appointment to judicial services in India.

The Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan delivered the judgment in March 2025 on a batch of petitions, including a suo motu case related the denial of reservations to such candidates in judicial services of certain States.

The Court said that persons with disabilities must not face any discrimination in judicial services and that the State must provide affirmative action to provide an inclusive framework.

"No candidate can be denied such opportunity solely on account of disability," the Supreme Court's judgment stated.