Delhi HC asks SSC to fix portal barriers for visually impaired applicants

The Delhi High Court has directed the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) to review its digital application procedures after concerns were raised over the inaccessibility of the current exam portal for visually impaired candidates.

A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued the directive while hearing a petition filed by Santosh Kumar Rungta, representing the National Federation of the Blind.

The plea highlighted that blind aspirants were unable to complete applications for major government recruitment exams due to the mandatory live photograph upload via facial recognition technology.

The petitioner argued that the current system violates constitutional rights by creating unnecessary hurdles for blind candidates.

“These candidates are being left out not because of merit, but because of a system that isn’t built for them,” the plea stated.

Recruitment exams such as the Combined Graduate Level (CGL), Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL), and Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) for 2025 require a live photograph as part of the application, something not feasible for many visually impaired applicants.

To support the claim, 60 email complaints from affected candidates were submitted before the court.

The bench instructed the SSC to examine the contents of these complaints and consider them seriously.

“We request the SSC to look into the grievances mentioned in these 60 emails. The larger issue raised in the petition will be examined in the context of future examinations,” the court said.

The bench also emphasized the need for an inclusive system and asked SSC officials to meet the petitioner in person to address the issues raised.

“There are real issues that need to be resolved. In the future, be more mindful. Come with your plans for future exams,” the court said.

The matter is scheduled for the next hearing on Nov 12. The court has asked SSC to return with a detailed plan on making its digital systems more accessible for visually impaired applicants.