Kartik Kansal: A scientist with disability who cracked UPSC four times but was denied service

Kartik Kansal, who has been living with muscular dystrophy since he was 14, has made headlines for his extraordinary achievements in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE). Despite clearing the exam four times and achieving impressive ranks, Kartik has faced significant hurdles in securing a service. His journey highlights both his remarkable resilience and the systemic challenges faced by persons with disabilities in India.

Kartik Kansal’s UPSC Success and Service Allocation Issues

Kartik Kansal’s determination to succeed in the UPSC exams is evident from his consistent performance over the years. He first appeared in the UPSC CSE in 2019 and secured a rank of 813. Following this, he improved his position with a rank of 271 in 2021, but his journey hit a major roadblock. Despite being the top candidate in the locomotor disability category that year, he was not allocated an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) position. Instead, candidates ranked just above him were given IAS positions, while Kartik was only considered for Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) Group A and Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Excise).

The 2021 UPSC notification included 22 vacancies for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), with six positions for locomotor disabilities. Kartik’s rank of 271 placed him first in this category, but he was ineligible for the IAS because muscular dystrophy was not included in the list of qualifying conditions. Despite his impressive rank and the fact that he was eligible for other services, the allocation of services did not align with his achievements.

In 2019, despite having a rank of 813, Kartik could have been allocated a service since 14 out of 15 vacancies for locomotor disabilities were filled. However, he was overlooked, which further highlights the inconsistencies and challenges within the system.

The Battle for Fair Representation

The complexities of the PwBD reservation system and disability classifications have played a crucial role in Kartik Kansal’s ongoing struggle. The initial disability certificate he held stated a 60% disability, but later, the AIIMS medical board certified him with 90% muscular dystrophy. The board confirmed that Kartik had significant physical limitations but still met the necessary criteria for both IAS and IRS positions, including writing, seeing, hearing, speaking, communicating, reading, and writing.

Despite these certifications, Kartik received responses from the central grievance redressal portal stating that no matching services were available according to his rank. Retired IAS officer Sanjeev Gupta has taken up Kartik’s cause, questioning the inconsistencies in functional classifications and physical requirements across different services. Gupta has pointed out that if cerebral palsy is allowed for IAS, then muscular dystrophy should also be considered.

Gupta has emphasized that Kartik, who did not use a scribe and taught himself to write despite his condition, was denied service unfairly. Gupta criticized the system for failing Kartik, stating, “Kartik didn’t even take a scribe; despite having muscular dystrophy, he trained to write himself, but the system failed him.”

Since 2024, the criteria for disability classifications have been revised, making Kartik Kansal eligible for IAS. Gupta has advocated for justice, urging that Kartik be granted an IAS position if vacancies have been carried forward from previous years, thereby correcting the past mistakes.

Currently, Kartik Kansal has taken his case to the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) after the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) declined to allocate him any service. The DoPT stated that Kartik did not fulfill the physical standards required for the service, despite the AIIMS certificate confirming his abilities. His case is now pending in CAT, where he seeks rectification of the injustice and the allocation of a suitable service.

Kartik Kansal’s story is not just about his personal struggle but also highlights broader issues related to disability inclusion and representation in public services. His perseverance in the face of adversity and his ongoing battle for fair treatment serve as a powerful reminder of the need for systemic changes to ensure equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their physical challenges.

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