IAS officer questions disability quota provision in civil services, sparks row

Sahbarwal took to her X handle to post, "As this debate is blowing up- 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) is field-work, long taxing hours, listening first hand to people’s grievances-which requires physical fitness. Why does this premier service need this Quota in the first place! #justasking."

Among several who slammed the remark, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote on X, "This is such a pathetic and exclusionary view to have. Interesting to see how bureaucrats are showing their limited thoughts and their privilege too."

Karuna Nandy, who claims to be a senior advocate of Supreme Court, posted on X, "Amazed that an IAS officer would be so fundamentally ignorant about disability. Most disabilities have no impact on stamina. Or intelligence. But this tweet shows enlightenment and diversity are badly needed."

In a counter-remark, Sabharwal wrote on X, "See a lot of outrage on my timeline. I suppose addressing the elephant in the room gets you that reaction. Would request the Rights Activists to also examine why this quota has still not been implemented in the IPS/ IFoS and certain sectors like defence.

"My limited point is that the IAS is no different. To live in an inclusive society is a dream that we all subscribe to. Insensitivity has no place in my mind. Jai Hind."

In a crackdown, the UPSC last week issued a notice to cancel trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar's selection owing to her alleged lie about her visual and mental disabilities and faking her identity.

Khedkar has "fraudulently availed attempts beyond the permissible limit", the notice says.

A police case has been filed against Khedkar, whom the UPSC has asked for a response as to why her candidature should not be cancelled.

Thirty-four-year-old Puja Khedkar faces accusations of using fraudulent means to clear her civil services exam, including allegedly misrepresenting herself under the physical disabilities and non-creamy layer of OBC categories.