Summary
| Category | Data |
|---|---|
| Court | Supreme Court of India |
| Case Number | W.P.(C) No.-000206-000206 – 2025 |
| Diary Number | 8097/2025 |
| Judge Name | HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE VIKRAM NATH |
| Bench | HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE VIKRAM NATH and HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP MEHTA |
| Precedent Value | Binding Authority |
| Overrules / Affirms | Affirms and gives effect to equality, non-discrimination, and accessibility obligations under Articles 14, 16, 21 of the Constitution and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 |
| Type of Law | Constitutional Law; Administrative Law; Disability Rights; Public Employment Law |
| Questions of Law |
|
| Ratio Decidendi | The Supreme Court held that substantive equality for persons with disabilities requires that UPSC remove arbitrary barriers—such as rigid timelines for scribe details—and must permit eligible candidates to change their scribes up to at least seven days before the exam, with each request decided by a reasoned order within three working days. The Court further recognized UPSC’s in-principle decision to introduce screen-reader software and digital question papers, but directed a clear roadmap, timeline and inter-agency coordination to operationalize those facilities in future examination cycles, ensuring compliance with Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution and the RPwD Act, 2016. |
| Logic / Jurisprudence / Authorities Relied Upon by the Court |
|
| Facts as Summarised by the Court |
The petition by Mission Accessibility challenged UPSC’s requirement to furnish scribe details at application stage and sought permission for laptops with screen-reader software and accessible digital question papers. UPSC initially allowed change‐of-scribe requests till 18 May 2025 and undertook to decide them within three working days but was silent on screen‐reader facilities. In September 2025 it gave an in-principle commitment to introduce screen-reader software, subject to infrastructure readiness, leading to directions for a clear implementation roadmap. |
Practical Impact
| Category | Impact |
|---|---|
| Binding On | Union Public Service Commission, Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and all examination authorities under UPSC aegis |
What’s New / What Lawyers Should Note
- The Court mandates that UPSC allow eligible candidates to request a change of scribe up to at least seven days before the exam.
- Each change-of-scribe application must be decided by a reasoned order within three working days of receipt.
- UPSC’s in-principle decision to introduce screen-reader software and accessible digital question papers must be backed by a concrete roadmap, timeline and compliance affidavit within two months.
- Inter-agency coordination (UPSC with DEPwD, NIEPVD, DoPT, State Governments) is required to standardize technical specifications, operational protocols, and security safeguards before implementation.
- Failure to operationalize the facilities by the next examination cycle may attract supervisory directions for enforcement of Articles 14 and 21 and the RPwD Act, 2016.
Summary of Legal Reasoning
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Constitutional Mandate
- Emphasis on substantive equality, non-discrimination, and dignified participation of persons with disabilities under Articles 14, 16 and 21.
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RPwD Act and CSE Rules, 2025
- Rights conferred by the RPwD Act, 2016 read with CSE Rules, 2025 require reasonable accommodations in public recruitment exams.
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Scribe Timelines
- Rigid requirement to furnish scribe details at application stage held arbitrary; flexibility up to seven days before the exam ensures meaningful access.
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Decision-Making Procedure
- Objective consideration of scribe-change requests by reasoned order within three working days prevents unnecessary uncertainty.
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Screen-Reader Facility
- In-principle acceptance of screen-reader software as a policy measure; infrastructure and logistical readiness remain prerequisites.
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Directions for Implementation
- Detailed roadmap, technical standardization, inter-agency coordination, compliance affidavit, and maintenance of exam integrity mandated to translate policy into practice.
Arguments by the Parties
Petitioner (Mission Accessibility)
- Mandatory advance furnishing of scribe details is arbitrary, unreasonable, and violates Articles 14, 16, 21 and the RPwD Act, 2016.
- Visually impaired candidates should be permitted to change scribe details closer to the exam date and use laptops with screen-reader software.
- Accessible digital question papers must be provided to eligible candidates.
Respondent No. 2 (UPSC)
- Initial timeline for scribe-change requests (till 18 May 2025) and decision within three working days was offered; silent on screen-reader facility.
- Logistical constraints precluded immediate implementation of screen-reader software; in-principle commitment made subject to infrastructure readiness and feasibility.
- Offered to file a compliance affidavit detailing roadmap, timelines, infrastructure requirements and coordination efforts.
Factual Background
Mission Accessibility challenged UPSC’s Civil Services Examination Rules, 2025 for: (a) requiring candidates to furnish scribe details at application stage; (b) restricting scribe-change requests; and (c) failing to provide laptops with screen-reader software and accessible digital question papers. UPSC initially permitted scribe-change requests till 18 May 2025 with objective consideration but withheld on screen-reader facilities. On 12 September 2025, UPSC filed an additional affidavit resolving to introduce screen-reader software in principle but sought time to develop requisite infrastructure, prompting Supreme Court directions for a clear implementation plan.
Statutory Analysis
- Articles 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution guarantee equality, nondiscrimination and dignity.
- Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 mandates reasonable accommodations in public examinations.
- Civil Services Examination Rules, 2025 incorporate instructions on scribe facilities for PwBD/PwD candidates but lacked flexibility and clarity.
- Supreme Court read down procedural rigidity to align CSE Rules with constitutional and statutory disability rights obligations.
Procedural Innovations
- Introduction of a uniform deadline of at least seven days before exam for scribe-change requests.
- Mandatory reasoned orders on scribe-change applications within three working days.
- Requirement for UPSC to file a two-month compliance affidavit detailing the roadmap, timeline, testing and standardization of screen-reader software and digital question-paper facilities.
- Directed inter-agency coordination protocols among UPSC, DEPwD, NIEPVD, DoPT, MSJE and State Governments to ensure uniform standards and secure implementation.
Alert Indicators
- ✔ Precedent Followed – Affirmation of existing constitutional and statutory principles on disability rights and reasonable accommodations.
- 📅 Time-Sensitive – Strict timelines set for scribe-change requests and compliance affidavit on screen-reader implementation.
- 🔄 Conflicting Decisions – Addresses and resolves logistical and procedural ambiguities in the UPSC’s initial implementation of CSE Rules, 2025.