Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Senior bureaucrat Smita Sabharwal’s recent remarks questioning the necessity of disability quotas in civil services have ignited a significant controversy. Sabharwal, the member-secretary of the Telangana Finance Commission, voiced her opinion amid the uproar surrounding the selection of probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar under disability criteria.
Sabharwal argued that the physically demanding nature of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) makes it unsuitable for individuals with disabilities. In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), she stated:
“With all due respect to the Differently Abled. Does an airline hire a pilot with disability? Or would you trust a surgeon with a disability? The nature of the #AIS (IAS/IPS/IFoS) involves fieldwork, long taxing hours, and listening firsthand to people’s grievances, which requires physical fitness. Why does this premier service need this quota in the first place!”
The post drew widespread criticism, with many calling Sabharwal’s perspective flawed and exclusionary.
Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi responded sharply, labeling the view as “pathetic and exclusionary.” She further criticized the selective outrage over the misuse of quotas, arguing that reservations promote diversity and inclusion.
Senior Supreme Court Advocate Karuna Nandy also condemned the remarks, highlighting the ignorance about disabilities. She emphasized that most disabilities do not affect stamina or intelligence, and the need for enlightenment and diversity in the bureaucracy is evident.
Arvind Gupta, Trustee of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), pointed out the significant contributions of people with disabilities and advocated for an inclusive ecosystem that enables their equal participation in society. He noted the importance of educating oneself to avoid excluding 20 crore Indians from contributing to a better India.
The controversy was sparked by the case of Puja Khedkar, a 2023-batch trainee IAS officer who faced scrutiny after Pune collector Suhas Diwase raised concerns about her eligibility for certain concessions during her probation. Khedkar was found to have availed of benefits for physical disability and OBC candidacy, despite not being eligible. Her two-year training has been suspended, and her selection into the IAS is now under investigation by a panel formed by the Centre.
