TG IAS Smitha Sabharwal’s post on reservations for differently abled lands in controversy
Hyderabad: Telangana Cadre Senior IAS officer Smita Sabharwal poked a hornet’s nest with her controversial comments on differently abled persons. Her post in X ( formerly twitter), which commented about reservations didn’t go well with the netizens and differently abled community on Sunday.
Smita Sabharwal in her controversial post said, “As this debate is blowing up- With all due respect to the Differently Abled. Does an Airline hire a pilot with a 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!”
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…
— Smita Sabharwal (@SmitaSabharwal) July 21, 2024
Recently, the issue of an IAS candidate, Puja Khedkar, submitting fake certificates surfaced, including a benchmark disability certificate to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the discussion around the reservations started blowing up. UPSC initiated a thorough investigation.
Bala Latha Mallavarapu, an IAS trainer strongly and seriously condemned the statements of Smita Sabharwal. Quoting William Shakespeare- ‘In nature there’s no blemish but the mind. None can be called deformed but the unkind,” said Bala Latha.
Responding to the same Bala Latha Mallavarapu released a Six minute video. She said, “My first question is that you are in a responsible position. How can you make statements like these? Whether to give reservation or not it is a government policy. Secondly, in prime positions in administration, mental and intellectual fitness is more important than physical fitness.Thirdly, a civil servant should have compassion and empathy. I can’t see these qualities in her”.
She further added, “In fact being a senior bureaucrat, by making these statements like these many differently abled IAS aspirants are disappointed with her comments and protesting against her. Who is she to raise a question on government policy? Even the supreme court permitted the person with disabilities to apply for opting IPS. Do you know Stephen Hackwing – he is a wheelchair scientist. Everyday 1-2 differently abled IAS aspirants come to me asking for suggestions who are more capable than the normal candidates.”
“If you think if a person has legs and two hands only eligible for IAS then it is your hallucination. Please don’t make these sweeping statements which will upset the differently abled IAS aspirants. It is your biggest mistake. Who are you to judge their abilities? You are not an activist but you are in a responsible position. I strongly and seriously condemn the statements. Have you ever worked with differently abled people? If you would, you would have understood how capable they are,” said Bala Latha.
Reacting to the statements on X, a Supreme Court Senior Advocate, Karuna Nundy said, “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.”
Smitha Sabarwal’s response
Responding to the post of Supreme Court advocate, Smitha posted, “Madam, I am fundamentally aware of the needs of the job. The issue here is about the suitability for a ground job. Also I firmly believe other Services within the Govt such as desk/think-tank nature is well suited. Please don’t jump to conclusions. Legal framework is for overall protection of the rights of equality. No debate there(sic),”
