Puja khedkar row: this senior ias officer questions on disability quota in the upsc

Days following the controversy surrounding Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer selected under disability criteria, a senior bureaucrat has raised doubts regarding the necessity of reservations for individuals with disabilities in the civil services. Puja khedkar row: Smita Sabharwal questions In a recent social media post, Smita Sabharwal. She is serving as the member-secretary of the Telangana Finance Commission, questioned, “With all respect to the Differently Abled, would an airline employ a pilot with a disability? Or would you entrust a surgeon with a disability?” “The duties of All India Services (IAS/IPS/IFoS) involve fieldwork, long and demanding hours, and firsthand interaction with people’s grievances, all of which necessitate physical fitness. Amidst the ensuing debate, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi criticized Sabharwal’s statement on Twitter, describing it as “disappointing.” “It is disheartening and exclusive to hold such a perspective. It is intriguing to observe how bureaucrats are revealing their narrow-mindedness and privilege,” remarked Priyanka Chaturvedi. In response, IAS officer Sabharwal promptly defended her stance, stating, “Madam, with all due respect, if bureaucrats do not address crucial governance issues, then who will? My opinions and concerns are based on over 24 years of experience… not limited exposure.” Nevertheless, Chaturvedi once again criticized the IAS officer. She is pointing out that bureaucrats tend to focus on eliminating reservations. It promotes diversity and inclusion, rather than addressing the misuse of quotas such as EWS/Non-creamy layer or Disabilities within the system. Puja Khedkar achieved an All India rank of 821 in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams. She was relocated from Pune to the Washim district of Maharashtra following accusations of authority misuse.