Telangana HC dismisses plea to delete Smita Sabharwal's tweet on differently-abled

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Monday dismissed a plea requesting the court to order Smita Sabharwal IAS, member secretary, Telangana State Finance Commission to delete ‘controversial and insensitive’ remarks she posted on X on differently-abled persons.

The PIL was filed by social activist Vasundhara Koppula after Smita Sabharwal made a post on X through her account (@SmitaSabharwal).

Chief Justice Alok Aradhe, who was part of the division bench with Justice J Sreenivas Rao, said: “The controversial remarks by Smita Sabharwal IAS has not deprived the differently abled persons of their reservations… Nobody is taking away the reservations of the physically handicapped persons, guaranteed to them by the Constitution of India, based on her remarks.”

Moreover, the remarks made by her are personal opinions/remarks which have no bearing on the policy decision of the Government and every person has a right to freedom of expression and speech, which is enjoyed by a citizen, he said.

Alok Aradhe said that he was not convinced by the contention of the counsel for the petitioner, who informed the court that the controversial remarks of Smitha Sabharwal have grossly affected the right to life and right to live with dignity of differently-abled persons across the country, as they are just ‘personal opinions’.

What is the controversy?

In July, Smita Sabharwal, senior Telangana IAS officer Smita Sabharwal got into controversy for her comments after trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar’s candidature was called into question. Puja was accused of wrongly availing of OBC and disability quota benefits.

Smita Sabharwal’s diatribe questioning the rationality of the induction of persons with disabilities (PWDs) into civil services has evoked a sharp response from the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD).

In a post on X, Smita wrote, “As this debate blows up – with all due respect to differently-abled. Does an airline hire a pilot with a disability? Or would you trust a surgeon with a disability? The nature of IAS is field work, long taxing hours, and listening firsthand to people’s grievances – which requires physical fitness. Why does this premier service need this Quota in the first place!”

Bala Latha, a former bureaucrat who trains civil service aspirants, had also challenged the controversial statements made by Smita Sabharwal on the differently-abled competing to become IAS officers. Even minister for Women and Child Welfare D Anasuya Seethakka expressed disapproval over the IAS officer’s tweet.