New Delhi: Smita Sabharwal, a senior bureaucrat and member-secretary of the Telangana Finance Commission, recently stirred controversy with her comments about disability quotas in civil services. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she questioned whether such quotas are necessary for roles in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

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.

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The nature of the #AIS ( IAS/IPS/IFoS) is field-work, long taxing hours, listening first hand to…

— Smita Sabharwal (@SmitaSabharwal) July 21, 2024

Sabharwal argued that the demanding nature of IAS work, which involves field duties, long hours, and direct interaction with the public, might be too challenging for individuals with disabilities. She compared this to professions like airline pilots or surgeons, asking if they would hire individuals with disabilities for these roles.

Her Post Stirs Debate

This is such a pathetic and exclusionary view to have. Interesting to see how bureaucrats are showing their limited thoughts and their privilege too https://t.co/n2seGiI0qP

— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) July 21, 2024

Sabharwal’s post led to a strong reaction from various quarters. Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi criticized her view as “pathetic and exclusionary,” suggesting that such opinions reflect a lack of understanding and privilege among bureaucrats. She emphasized that criticism should be directed at the misuse of reservations, not their existence, and argued that diversity and inclusion are crucial.

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. https://t.co/DXa0mVU3GU

— Karuna Nundy (@karunanundy) July 21, 2024

Senior Supreme Court Advocate Karuna Nandy also responded, expressing amazement at the “fundamental ignorance” of Sabharwal’s stance. She pointed out that many disabilities do not affect a person’s stamina or intelligence and that people with disabilities can make significant contributions if given a fair opportunity.

As a trustee of @ncpedp_india, we see thousands of innovative outcomes by people with disabilities, which is inspirational in many ways. NCPEDP was instrumental in getting disabled people in UPSC & we see them struggling daily due to lack of awareness. If given a universal… https://t.co/M6TUgDSIUY

— Arvind Gupta (@buzzindelhi) July 21, 2024

Arvind Gupta, a trustee of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), also weighed in. He highlighted the success stories of individuals with disabilities who have thrived in challenging environments when given the right support. He called for better education on disability issues and emphasized that people with disabilities can contribute meaningfully to society.

Background on the Controversy

The debate was fueled by the case of Puja Khedkar, a 2023-batch probationary IAS officer. She faced scrutiny over her eligibility for disability quotas and allegations about her qualifications. Her training has been suspended while a central panel investigates the validity of her selection and the application of disability and OBC criteria.

In summary, Smita Sabharwal’s comments have ignited a broader discussion on disability rights and quotas in civil services, challenging established views and sparking a call for greater inclusivity and understanding.