Deaf and dumb should not be used, only "hearing impaired"; High Court division bench on family court appeal

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has said that those with hearing impairment should only be described as "hearing impaired". A division bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M B Snehalatha observed that all other adjectives, including deaf and dumb, are wrong. The division bench's order corrected the epithet in the petition that the opposite party is deaf and dumb.
The hearing-impaired woman had filed a petition in the Chavara family court seeking the return of gold and other items from her in-laws. Considering the petitioner's demand, an assistant was appointed to conduct the case. The family court rejected the sub-petition filed by her husband and others stating that this was without following the procedure. The division bench was considering the appeal filed against this.

On the issue raised in the petition, the court set aside the family court's action of appointing an assistant and directed that the matter be considered again and legal action be taken.