High court steps in to safeguard rights of pregnant KPSC aspirant

The Karnataka High Court has ordered the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) to allow a pregnant woman to take her Group A recruitment examination in her hometown of Kalaburagi, emphasizing her constitutional rights and medical needs.

The woman, nearing the end of her pregnancy, filed a plea after being assigned an exam center in either Bengaluru or Dharwad. Her lawyer explained that she was receiving ongoing treatment in Kalaburagi, and doctors had strongly advised her against traveling long distances.

The KPSC contended that conducting an exam for a single applicant in an alternate location would be logistically unfeasible. They cited security requirements such as CCTV monitoring and staffing, stating these could not be arranged just for one person.

Justice Dr. Chillakur Sumalatha, however, firmly disagreed. In her ruling, she highlighted that denying accommodation due to bureaucratic rigidity violated Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution—provisions ensuring equality, affirmative action for women, and equal opportunity in public employment.

The judge also pointed out the irony in the state’s reluctance to make arrangements for one deserving candidate when substantial funds are routinely spent on conducting elections and bypolls, often without long-term planning.

She reminded the authorities that Kalaburagi is not an underdeveloped village but a district equipped with power supply and public facilities, where surveillance systems can be arranged swiftly if the intent exists.

The KPSC was directed to notify the woman of her revised exam venue by April 9.

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