Kartik Kansal: The Disabled ISRO Scientist Who Cracked UPSC Four Times but Was Denied Service
Kartik Kansal: The Disabled ISRO Scientist Who Cracked UPSC Four Times but Was Denied Service
Amid the recent controversy involving trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar allegedly misusing the disability quota, another significant case has surfaced in the headlines. Kartik Kansal, an ISRO scientist with muscular dystrophy, has passed the UPSC exam four times but has yet to be allotted any service due to his disability.
Who is Kartik Kansal?
Kartik Kansal, a resident of Roorkee, Uttarakhand, has been confined to a wheelchair since the age of 14 due to muscular dystrophy. Despite this, he has excelled academically and professionally. He holds a B.Tech degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Roorkee and currently works as a scientist at ISRO.
Cleared UPSC Exam Four Times
Kansal has cleared the UPSC Civil Service Examination four times: in 2019 (rank 813), 2021 (rank 271), 2022 (rank 784), and 2023 (rank 829). Despite his consistent performance, he has not been selected for any service due to his disability.
Discrepancy in Disability Assessment
Kansal’s initial disability certificate indicated a 60% disability, but an AIIMS board examination later confirmed a 90% disability. This discrepancy has played a significant role in his non-selection. Although the UPSC had included muscular dystrophy in the service conditions for candidates eligible for the Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) Group A and Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Excise), Kansal did not receive an appointment even after selecting these services in his preference list.
Selection Not Done Despite Vacancy
In 2019, with a rank of 813, Kansal could have been allotted a service as there were 15 vacancies under the locomotor disability category, of which only 14 were filled. In 2021, only four out of seven posts in the locomotor disability category were filled, and Kansal, who ranked first in this category, was still not appointed. Despite his eligibility and high ranking, the UPSC did not include muscular dystrophy in the service conditions for candidates eligible for the IAS that year.
Legal Battle in CAT
Kansal is currently fighting his case in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). The case is pending due to concerns about his functional classification and physical requirements, as outlined in the UPSC 2021 notification. Although he applied for a specific service, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) informed him that his functional classification and physical requirements did not meet the necessary standards for the service.
Kartik Kansal’s struggle highlights the challenges faced by disabled candidates in the civil services selection process, raising important questions about inclusivity and fairness in the system.
