Latest news with #PwBD
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SC issues notice to U'khand on plea of blind judicial services exam aspirant
New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses from the Uttarakhand government and its public services commission on a plea challenging exclusion of persons with blindness and locomotor disability from taking up judicial services examination. SC issues notice to U'khand on plea of blind judicial services exam aspirant A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan issued fresh notices to the state, the services commission and the registrar general of the Uttarakhand High Court on Sravya Sindhuri's plea. The bench was informed that the petitioner, who is completely blind, challenged the exclusion of the blind, and those with locomotor disability from being eligible for the judicial exams. "That is very bad, very bad on the part of the government,' Justice Pardiwala asked. The bench issued the notice to the state considering the examination was scheduled to begin on August 31 and none appeared despite previous notices. The top court on March 3 delivered a landmark judgement in a similar case and held blind persons cannot be denied opportunity of employment in judicial services, as it struck down provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service Rules that excluded them. "It is high time that we view the right against disability-based discrimination, as recognised in the RPwD Act 2016, of the same stature as a fundamental right, thereby ensuring that no candidate is denied consideration solely on account of their disability," it said. The plea, on which the top court issued the notices on Friday, alleged the recruitment advertisement of May 16 violated constitutional rights and statutory provisions under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act Act. The petition also challenged the restriction of PwBD eligibility to only four specific categories: leprosy cured, acid attack victims, muscular dystrophy, and dwarfism, and consequential exclusion of several other benchmark disabilities such as blindness and locomotor disability. The petitioner's counsel submitted the recruitment notification not only unlawfully restricted eligibility but also imposed a domicile requirement, disqualifying persons with benchmark disabilities who are not residents of Uttarakhand. The advertisement was alleged to be contrary to Section 34 of the RPwD Act, which mandates 4 per cent reservation for persons with benchmark disabilities in government establishments, with 1 per cent specifically for blindness and low vision and another 1 per cent for locomotor disabilities. It sought quashing of the advertisement to the extent it excludes non-domiciled PwBD candidates and restricts eligibility to only four sub-categories. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
SC issues notice to U'khand on plea of blind judicial services exam aspirant
New Delhi, Jul 25 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses from the Uttarakhand government and its public services commission on a plea challenging exclusion of persons with blindness and locomotor disability from taking up judicial services examination. A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan issued fresh notices to the state, the services commission and the registrar general of the Uttarakhand High Court on Sravya Sindhuri's plea. The bench was informed that the petitioner, who is completely blind, challenged the exclusion of the blind, and those with locomotor disability from being eligible for the judicial exams. 'That is very bad, very bad on the part of the government," Justice Pardiwala asked. The bench issued the notice to the state considering the examination was scheduled to begin on August 31 and none appeared despite previous notices. The top court on March 3 delivered a landmark judgement in a similar case and held blind persons cannot be denied opportunity of employment in judicial services, as it struck down provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service Rules that excluded them. 'It is high time that we view the right against disability-based discrimination, as recognised in the RPwD Act (Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act) 2016, of the same stature as a fundamental right, thereby ensuring that no candidate is denied consideration solely on account of their disability," it said. The plea, on which the top court issued the notices on Friday, alleged the recruitment advertisement of May 16 violated constitutional rights and statutory provisions under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD) Act. The petition also challenged the restriction of PwBD (persons with benchmark disability) eligibility to only four specific categories: leprosy cured, acid attack victims, muscular dystrophy, and dwarfism, and consequential exclusion of several other benchmark disabilities such as blindness and locomotor disability. The petitioner's counsel submitted the recruitment notification not only unlawfully restricted eligibility but also imposed a domicile requirement, disqualifying persons with benchmark disabilities who are not residents of Uttarakhand. The advertisement was alleged to be contrary to Section 34 of the RPwD Act, which mandates 4 per cent reservation for persons with benchmark disabilities in government establishments, with 1 per cent specifically for blindness and low vision and another 1 per cent for locomotor disabilities. It sought quashing of the advertisement to the extent it excludes non-domiciled PwBD candidates and restricts eligibility to only four sub-categories. PTI SJK SJK AMK AMK view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 16:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
23-07-2025
- Health
- News18
NEET UG 2025: MCC Announces New Rules To Obtain PwBD Certificate, Check Details
PwBD candidates have been directed to obtain a new disability certificate from one of the 16 MCC-approved centres to qualify for MBBS admission under the reserved category quota. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has issued new guidelines for NEET UG 2025 candidates applying under the PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) category for MBBS admissions. As per the latest announcement, all PwBD candidates must obtain a fresh disability certificate from one of the 16 MCC-approved centres to be eligible for MBBS admission under the reserved category. This update is in response to a Supreme Court decision and revised guidelines from the National Medical Commission (NMC) to ensure precise disability assessments. Candidates must also bring a valid UDID card and other required documents when visiting the disability centres. These new rules are designed to make the admission process more transparent and inclusive for PwBD candidates. MCC's guidelines follow the Supreme Court's directive in the Om Rathod vs Union of India case. Consequently, the NMC has updated its disability evaluation framework, implementing a function-based approach as stated in the 2016 disability rights law and a March 2024 notification by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Eligibility Criteria To apply under the PwBD quota, candidates must meet the following criteria: – Qualify NEET UG 2025 – Possess a valid UDID card (Yellow or above) issued by DEPwD – Submit a self-certified affidavit specific to their disability type (Appendix A to F) – Undergo medical assessment at one of the 16 designated MCC disability centres Candidates must be certified by these centres to be eligible for PwBD quota seats in the All India Quota (AIQ) during counselling sessions. PwBD candidates need to carry the following documents to the disability certification centre: – NEET UG 2025 result – UDID card (Yellow category or higher; excludes visual disability) – Self-certification form (Appendix A) – Affidavit corresponding to the disability category (Appendix B to F) These documents will be checked by a medical board assessing the candidate's functional abilities, such as communication, hand function, or walking ability, depending on the type of disability. The new framework focuses on functional competence rather than just the disability percentage. Specific forms assess hearing, locomotor (upper and lower limbs), mental health, visual impairment, and other conditions. Candidates must demonstrate abilities such as writing, independent mobility, or understanding medical terminology, as applicable. Candidates with visual impairment should bring their own low vision aids (LVAs) for hands-on evaluation. Those with conditions like thalassemia, hemophilia, autism, or mental illness must submit the general self-certification (Appendix A) along with affidavits specific to their diagnosis. The disability certificate will be valid only for the 2025–26 academic session. For State Quota seats (85%), candidates can obtain certificates from State Disability Boards, but the assessment will follow the same NMC guidelines. First Published: July 23, 2025, 11:57 IST News education-career NEET UG 2025: MCC Announces New Rules To Obtain PwBD Certificate, Check Details Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
NEET UG 2025 MBBS admissions: MCC issues new guidelines for PwBD candidates, check official notice here
MCC issues guidelines for NEET UG MBBS admissions under PwBD quota. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has issued new rules for NEET UG 2025 candidates applying under the PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) category. As per the latest notice, all PwBD candidates must get a fresh disability certificate from one of the 16 MCC-approved centres to be eligible for MBBS admission under the reserved quota. This change follows a Supreme Court order and new guidelines from the National Medical Commission (NMC) to ensure fair and accurate assessment of disabilities. Candidates must also carry a valid UDID card and other documents when visiting the disability centres. These new rules aim to make the admission process clearer and more inclusive for students with disabilities. What's new in the MCC NEET 2025 guidelines? The MCC's latest instructions follow the Supreme Court's directive in Om Rathod vs Union of India . In compliance, the NMC has updated its disability evaluation framework, replacing older criteria with a function-based approach rooted in the 2016 disability rights law and a March 2024 notification by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Candidates can read the official notification released by MCC here . Who is eligible for PwBD quota? To be considered under the PwBD quota, candidates must: Qualify in NEET UG 2025 Hold a valid UDID card (Yellow or above) issued by DEPwD Submit a self-certified affidavit tailored to their disability type (Appendix A to F) Undergo medical assessment at one of 16 designated MCC disability centres Only those certified by these centres will be allowed to opt for PwBD quota seats in the All India Quota (AIQ) during counselling. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Documents required PwBD candidates must carry the following while visiting a disability certification centre: NEET UG 2025 result UDID card (Yellow category or higher; excludes visual disability) Self-certification form (Appendix A) Affidavit matching the disability category (Appendix B to F) These will be assessed by a medical board that evaluates the candidate's functional abilities, such as communication, hand function, or ability to walk, depending on the disability type. Assessment: Function over percentage The new model focuses on functional competence rather than just disability percentage. Specific forms are used to evaluate hearing, locomotor (upper and lower limbs), mental health, visual impairment, and other conditions. Candidates must demonstrate abilities like writing, independent mobility, or understanding medical terminology, as relevant. Visual and 'other' disabilities Candidates with visual disabilities must bring their own low vision aids (LVAs) for hands-on evaluation. Those with conditions like Thalassemia, Hemophilia, Autism, or Mental Illness must file the general self-certification (Appendix A) along with affidavits specific to their diagnosis. Validity and state quota The issued disability certificate is valid only for the 2025–26 academic session. For State Quota seats (85%), candidates can obtain certificates from State Disability Boards, but the assessment must follow the same NMC guidelines. Where to get certified? Some key centres include: Safdarjung Hospital (Delhi) IPGMER (Kolkata) Grant Medical College (Mumbai) AIIMS Nagpur Lady Hardinge Medical College (Delhi) AIISH Mysuru (for hearing and speech disabilities) ( See full list in MCC Annexure-1 ) Final takeaway Only those PwBD candidates who obtain a fresh MCC-recognized disability certificate will be allowed to apply under the AIQ PwBD quota for NEET UG 2025. MCC has also indicated plans to expand the number of disability assessment centres soon. This new process ensures fairness, legal compliance, and a more practical assessment of whether a student can pursue medicine successfully. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Hindustan Times
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Puja Khedkar's non-creamy layer OBC certificate cancelled
The Nashik divisional commissioner has cancelled the non-creamy layer certificate of Puja Khedkar, a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) probationer accused of fraudulently clearing the 2022 civil services examination by misrepresenting her identity and using forged documents. Washim, Jul 16 (ANI): IAS trainee Puja Khedkar speaks to the media regarding the police interrogation at her residence, in Washim on Tuesday. (ANI Photo) (ANI) Khedkar, whose probation has already been terminated, is expected to appeal against the cancellation. The hearing will be held at Mantralaya, the state secretariat, soon, officials said. Praveen Gedam, the Nashik divisional commissioner, had rejected Khedkar's application for the certificate more than a month ago, officials said. Khedkar has now appealed to the secretary of the state Other Backward Class (OBC) department, Appasaheb Dhulaj, against the cancellation. 'Last week, she told us that she needs a four-week extension,' said Dhulaj. Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer, allegedly misused the OBC non-creamy layer and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) quotas to secure her selection. She is accused of submitting fake OBC and disability certificates, claiming conditions like mental illness, low vision, and locomotor issues, to avail reservation benefits. To qualify for the OBC non-creamy layer category, a candidate's family income needs to be less than ₹8 lakh per annum. Khedkar had allegedly claimed that her family income was ₹6 lakh per annum. However, investigations revealed that her family owns significant assets, including 23 immovable properties and 12 vehicles. Her father, Dilip Khedkar, was a regional officer in the state pollution control board and had declared assets of ₹40 crore when he contested the Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate. Khedkar ran into trouble when she demanded unauthorised perks like a cabin for herself and used a beacon light on her private Audi, which sparked scrutiny. Later, many irregularities in her appointment were exposed, and her probation was terminated. In July 2024, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) cancelled Khedkar's candidature, debarred her from future exams, and filed a criminal case against her for cheating and forgery. The central government dismissed her from the IAS in September 2024. Khedkar, who has denied all allegations, is on anticipatory bail granted by the Supreme Court. Puja Khedkar was not available for comment, while her father, Dilip Khedkar, said he was not aware of the appeal before Dhulaj.
