Institute of Legal and Management Studies

The Supreme Court recently allowed persons with disabilities candidates, appearing for the Preliminary Examination of the Civil Service Examination 2025, to change their scribe in the registration form till May 18 (4 pm). The exam is scheduled to take place on May 25.

A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta passed an order in a writ petition filed by Mission Accessibility seeking an option to change the scribe's name in the registration form for persons with disabilities. It is their case that the registration form required them to give details of the scribe by 18th February, months before the examination which meant that the candidates have to request their scribes for a long-term commitment. It is extraordinarily difficult for candidates because the scribes are usually doing this as voluntary service.

"In view of the submissions noted above, we hereby provide that all the requests for change of scribe submitted by the concerned candidates who are entitled for a scribe in terms of the CSE Rules, 2025 shall be entertained till 18th May, 2025," the order says.

Advocate Rahul Bajaj, representing Mission Accessibility, had submitted that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) should also prescribe a timeline in which the decision of the UPSC will be communicated. This is for instances where if the UPSC disallows the scribe choose by the candidate, the said candidate can take steps requesting either the Commission for a scribe or for reconsideration.

In this regard, Advocate Hrishikesh Baruah, for the UPSC, submitted that so far, 27 requests for persons with disabilities candidates have been received. Baurah said that the commission will examine all requests based on merit and revert to the candidates within 3 working days.

Therefore, in this regard the Court noted: "The Commission shall immediately, upon receipt of such application, consider the same objectively and communicate the decision thereof by a reasoned order to the candidate/s concerned within a period of three working days from the date of receipt of the application/s."

The other issue raised in the petition is the facility of screen reader software, Access with Speech (JAWS) to the persons with disabilities candidates. On this issue, the affidavit filed by the UPSC is silent.

It should be noted that a coordinate bench of this Court had allowed a similar pray for the students with disabilities appearing for CLAT and All India Bar Association Exam.

Baruah has submitted that the petitioner says only two candidates require screen readers whereas, if any decision is made in this, such option will have to be extended to all such candidates eligible. In this regard, it was added that the Commission at present does not have the necessary logistical facility for the Preliminary Examination. He prayed that some time may be granted to file specific affidavit in this regard.

Whereas, the Union's stand, represented by Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave, is that the issue could be examined and a suitable decision can be taken by the UPSC Commission with the Department of Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She added that any decision on this would not require any sort of statutory amendment.

The Court will now hear the matter on May 16 on the issue of screen readers for persons with disabilities.

'Case Details: MISSION ACCESSIBILITY v. UNION OF INDIA AND ANR.|Diary No. 8097-2025

Click Here To Read Order

Appearances: Mr. Rahul Bajaj, Adv. Ms. Sanchita Ain, AOR Mr. Amar Jain, Adv. Mr. Taha Bin Tasneem, Adv. Ms. Anchal Bhateja, Adv [Petitioners]

For Respondent(s) :Mrs. Archana Pathak Dave, A.S.G. Mr. Udit Dedhiya, Adv. Mr. Sudhakar Kulwant, Adv. Mr. Yashraj Bundela, Adv. Mr. Amit Sharma B, Adv. Dr. N. Visakamurthy, AOR

Mr. Hrishikesh Baruah, AOR Mr. Utkarsh Dwivedi, Adv.