The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Centre following a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the alleged misuse of the scribe facility in the Civil Services Examination by candidates with disabilities. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia has requested responses from the UPSC, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), and the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on September 16.
Advocate Rahul Bajaj, representing the petitioner, has challenged the existing qualification criteria for scribes set by the UPSC. Bajaj argued that the scribe’s qualifications should not exceed the minimum qualification of the candidate, which is graduation. The Delhi High Court questioned the PIL’s maintainability, suggesting that affected candidates should file individual petitions. However, Bajaj contended that the current framework creates an unequal playing field, leading to the court issuing notice on the petition.
The PIL, filed by Deepstambh Foundation, seeks UPSC directives to prohibit the use of scribes who have participated in any stage of the Civil Services Examination and those associated with UPSC coaching centers. It also demands that every scribe confirms they have not previously taken the Civil Services Examination or coached civil services aspirants. The plea highlights that the UPSC allows candidates with benchmark disabilities to use a scribe, with qualifications not exceeding the examination’s minimum criteria, requiring the scribe to be matriculate or above.
The petition raises concerns that the current system allows graduates who have taken the examination or are linked to coaching institutes to act as scribes, potentially distorting the level playing field. It alleges that some scribes, who are graduates and familiar with the exam pattern, influence responses, turning the test into a collaborative effort rather than an individual assessment of merit. The PIL emphasizes that it aims to prevent misuse of the scribe facility while maintaining accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Deepstambh Foundation had previously notified the UPSC about the alleged loophole in April 2026, proposing corrective actions, but received no response, leading to the PIL filing.
