- Key Points:
- Praful Desai, an IAS officer, accused of forging disability certificates to benefit from UPSC reservation.
- Controversy follows another similar case involving Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar.
- Desai defends his participation in physical activities, asserting his disability does not restrict him.
Did Praful Desai Forge a Disability Certificate for UPSC Quota?
New Delhi: Praful Desai, an IAS officer from Telangana, is facing allegations of forging a disability certificate to avail benefits under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and Orthopedically Handicapped (OH) category in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil service examination. This scandal emerges amidst another controversy involving Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who has been accused of similar misconduct and consequently relieved from the District Training Programme of the Maharashtra State Government.
The controversy surrounding Praful Desai, who currently serves as Additional Collector of Karimnagar, intensified when images of him participating in physically demanding activities such as horse-riding, rafting, and cycling went viral on social media. These images raised questions about the authenticity of his disability claims.
What Triggered the Controversy?
A viral post on social media platform X challenged Desai’s eligibility under the OH category, given his active involvement in sports and physical activities. The post read, “You are Praful Desai, an IAS officer from the 2019 batch with AIR 532 in the EWS and Orthopedically handicapped category. People on Twitter are sharing photos of you cycling, playing tennis, rafting, and horse riding, claiming you’ve fully recovered after rigorous training at LBSNAA. Now that these photos are public, you’ve suddenly made your account private. What are you afraid of? Please address the doubts of aspirants to uphold the transparency of the UPSC. Many hardworking students keep their dreams alive through dedication and hard work. Please give them an answer sir!”
Desai’s Defense Against the Allegations
Responding to the allegations, Desai asserted that his participation in these activities does not invalidate his disability status. He explained, “I have applied for UPSC exam with a benchmark disability certificate issued by the competent authority. During UPSC examination 2018, after lot of hardwork and dedication, I have appeared for the personality test/interview in Upsc bhavan…I agree that persons who claim benefits on false information should be punished but at the same time we should be sensitive towards people who are genuine.”
Desai further clarified, “Coming to few of my photos where I have seen doing cycling, trekking and other activities, it was all part of our training programme and for building good bond with our batchmates/friends. Being physically challenged person and pushing my physical limits and trying to live a normal life like others is wrong? My request to all those netizens who is sharing fake information is be empathetic and sensitive towards genuine people and their family before directly jumping into conclusion without thorough information and even now I’m ready to face any medical board examination.”
Other Similar Cases and Broader Implications
This incident follows closely on the heels of another similar controversy involving former bureaucrat and actor Abhishek Singh, who was also selected under the disability criteria. Singh faced scrutiny after videos of him dancing and working out at the gym went viral. Responding to the allegations, Singh stated, “Although I am not affected by any criticism, this is the first time in my lifetime that I am answering my critics. And that is because thousands of my supporters are telling me that you should answer otherwise our morale will break. So it is my moral duty to put the truth in front so that their trust is not broken. So this answer is dedicated to my supporters and not to the critics.”
The controversy around these IAS officers began with Puja Khedkar, who secured an All India rank of 841 in the UPSC exams and is accused of misusing her authority by applying under multiple categories, including Other Backward Class (OBC), visually impaired, and submitting a certificate for mental illness.
Conclusion
The allegations against Praful Desai have sparked a debate about the integrity of the UPSC reservation system and the authenticity of disability claims by high-ranking officials. As Desai defends his position and readiness to undergo any medical examination, the broader issue of transparency and fairness in the selection process remains a critical concern for aspirants and the general public alike.
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