Madras HC upholds exam rules for disabled candidate

The Madras High Court has rejected a petition from a disabled candidate, A Mohamed Ibrahim, who challenged the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission's (TNPSC) decision to reject his answer sheet for a civil services exam. Ibrahim's answer sheet was not accepted because it lacked a signature or thumb impression, which is required by TNPSC guidelines. Justice CV Karthikeyan, who led the bench, ruled that these guidelines are strict and cannot be altered for an individual case. The court argued that changing the rules for one candidate could lead to unfair requests from others in similar situations. The judge stated, “Rules cannot be changed for one particular candidate who omitted to affix his signature.” Ibrahim, who is disabled due to an accident, had a scribe to assist him during the exam held on June 9, 2024. He argued that his condition made it difficult for him to sign. However, the court noted that the TNPSC provides alternatives for candidates unable to sign, such as using a thumb impression or leaving the signature column blank if they are fully unable to use both hands. Since Ibrahim did not claim to be completely immobilized, the court decided he needed to follow the established procedures. The judgment emphasized that adhering to exam regulations is essential for fairness. The court dismissed the petition without costs, confirming that it could not change TNPSC's mandatory rules.