https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

IAS Smita Sabharwal’s Opinion Against The ‘Necessity Of Disability Quotas’ In Bureaucracy Sparks Outrage

Officer Smita Sabharwal, affectionately endeared as "people's officer," is a 2001-batch Telangana cadre IAS officer, who became the first female IAS Officer to be appointed to the Chief Minister’s Office
Indian Masterminds Stories

IAS Smita Sabharwal has recently upped the ante on the contentious “Puja Khedkar Fake Disability Certificate Saga” through her controversial take on the ‘necessity’ of disability quotas in India’s premium government services. She opines that since ‘differently-abled’ individuals find it difficult to tend to the demanding conditions of work in All India Services, such a Quota should not exist in the first place.

Taking to X from her official handle (where she has over 4.3 lakh followers), Officer Sabharwal had written, “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 people’s grievances-which requires physical fitness. Why does this premier service need this Quota in the first place!”

This tweet made her the cynosure of intense banter between dissenters and supporters, alike. When an X-user lamented over the fact that ‘an IAS officer was fundamentally ignorant about disability’ and enunciated that “most disabilities have no impact on stamina or intelligence.” Officer Sabharwal, in her reply, stated, “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.”

In another instance, Ms. Priyanka Chaturvedi, a Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra, countered IAS Sabharwal and wrote on X, “This is such a pathetic and exclusionary view to have. Interesting to see how bureaucrats are showing their limited thoughts and their privilege too.” Officer Sabharwal was swift to respond and wrote, “If bureaucrats do not speak on pertinent issues of governance, then who will? My thoughts and concern, stem from a career of 24 odd years… no limited experience.”

Find the original tweet here:

Later, Officer Sabharwal took to X and expressed her final stand on the virtual debate by writing, “I suppose addressing the elephant in the room gets you that reaction. Would request the Rights Activists to also examine why this quota has still not been implemented in the IPS/ IFoS and certain sectors like defence. My limited point is that the IAS is no different.  To live in an inclusive society is a dream that we all subscribe to. Insensitivity has no place in my mind.”

IAS Sabharwal’s Feed Becomes A Hotbed For Discord:

Many individuals, mostly articulate netizens and even eminent personalities engaged in the debate and expressed their views on the matter.

One of those who opposed Ms. Sabharwal’s take wrote:

“Thanks to your understanding. Locomotor disability doesnt mean a person cant move without any support. Im my self a locomotor disabled and an Amputee. I have travelled 4 countries alone, I have travelled all south states. I run a business, I drive , I Swim. I walk with crutches.

And most of the modern day IAS and IPS are not into service they are treating themselves as Kings and Queens, they are enjoying luxurious life forgetting they are civil Servants.” Officer Sabharwal replied, “Hats off to you.”

Another dissenter wrote, “My daughter has loco motor issue with more issue of chronic neurological conditions. But she stood first in her class. Trying to swim, cycle, and wants me to teach driving. I wish we had automobile company who could come up to help with hand accelerator. With all respect Madam @SmitaSabharwal there is no quota for disabled in IPS, IFS and IFoS meaning these services have already been categorised as not suitable for disabled. Disabled people have been given access to only IAS out of three AIS.”

There were users who supported Officer Sabharwal’s take, too. One user wrote, “You are right madam , I think the disability quota can sometimes lead to tokenism rather than genuine empowerment and this can undermine the credibility of the services also. This is the big compromise with the efficiency and effectiveness of public administration.”

Another stated, “Support Smita madam views. She talks about particular services that can be avoided to get maximum efficiency. What’s wrong with this? It’s not about empowering differently abled.”

“You are absolutely right. All the virtue signalling folks will jump on you today. Quotas for disabled in high intensity jobs should be relooked. Many come to regret it later and are given lighter postings. The brilliant ones like Ms Singhal will get in without quotas,” observed another user.

Officer Smita Sabharwal, affectionately endeared as “people’s officer,” is a 2001-batch Telangana cadre IAS officer, who became the first female IAS Officer to be appointed to the Chief Minister’s Office.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Indian Police Services IPS Officer
Punjab Flood Relief: Why IPS Officers Are Donating One Day’s Salary in Unprecedented Generosity
Uttarakhand Flood Cm Dhami
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Conducts Ground Inspection in Disaster-Hit Areas of Haridwar, Assures Swift Relief Efforts
RVNL
IRSE Officer Sukhmal Chand Jain Takes Over as CMD of RVNL | Career Highlights Inside
CM Yogi
UP Govt Approves Electronics Component Policy 2025: ₹5,000 Cr Investment Target to Boost Local Manufacturing & Create Lakhs of Jobs
Gail Awards 2025
GAIL CMD Sandeep Kumar Gupta Named Best CEO in Extel 2025 Asia Executive Team Survey; Company Shines Across Categories
India Celebrates World Coconut Day Awards
Coconut Development Board Launches Revised Schemes, Presents Export Excellence Awards on World Coconut Day | Complete List of Winners
CM Nitish kumar
Bihar: Nitish Kumar Cabinet Approves Rs 1,121 Daily Allowance for Home Guards & Up to Rs 25,000 Risk Allowance for ATS
Vikram 32 Chip Made in India
India Launches First Indigenous 32-Bit Microprocessor Vikram-32: Key Milestone in Semiconductor Mission | All You Need to Know
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IPS Shikha Goel
Decoding Digital Dangers: Insights from IPS Shikha Goel on Cyber Crimes
IPS Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo
Managing Elections, Communal Tensions, and Public Safety – Meet IPS Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo | Video Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-25 at 13.56
Operation Hunt: IPS Dr. Karanraj Vaghela’s Mission to Nab Valsad’s Most Wanted
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
IAS Sakshi Sawhney Amritsar DC
Punjab Floods: IAS Sakshi Sawhney’s Emotional Appeal to Elderly Man Wins Hearts, Video of Humanity Goes Viral
Viral Video Captures Emotional Moment as Amritsar DC Shows Sensitivity and Courage Amid Relief Effor...
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Indian Police Services IPS Officer
Punjab Flood Relief: Why IPS Officers Are Donating One Day’s Salary in Unprecedented Generosity
Uttarakhand Flood Cm Dhami
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Conducts Ground Inspection in Disaster-Hit Areas of Haridwar, Assures Swift Relief Efforts
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IPS Shikha Goel
IPS Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-25 at 13.56
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT