Delhi High Court Pushes for Accessibility Reform in SSC Exams Portal

The Delhi High Court has mandated the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) to enhance its online portal, making it more accessible for visually impaired candidates. The directive follows a legal appeal led by Santosh Kumar Rungta from the National Federation of the Blind, highlighting the discrimination faced by candidates unable to upload photographs due to visual impairments.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela advised the SSC to explore alternative methods for blind candidates during photograph submission, as part of their online exam application process. This initiative aims to eliminate barriers in the Combined Graduate Level, Higher Secondary Level, and Multi-Tasking Staff Examinations.

The court noted the submission of 60 complaint e-mails from affected candidates and urged the SSC to address these issues promptly. The bench also asked SSC officials to engage directly with the petitioner to resolve ongoing grievances, emphasizing the need for a policy revamp to ensure future exam portals are more inclusive.

(With inputs from agencies.)