NEW DELHI: In keeping with the Supreme Court’s directives for conducting written examination for persons having less than 40% disability or persons having medical condition that may restrict their writing capacity, the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities has come out with a public notice seeking suggestions and comments till June 1 on its draft guidelines.
The Supreme Court in its order dated February 11 directed DEPwD of the ministry of social justice and empowerment to formulate norms after public consultation. Although the government has norms for those with disability of 40% and above, SC has sought the same for less than 40% disability where the nature of disability poses a barrier to the candidate in writing an examination. It also sought that these guidelines should also prescribe appropriate norms to ensure that condition of the candidate is duly certified by such competent medical authority as may be prescribed so as to ensure that only genuine candidates in need of the facility are able to avail it.
The department has developed draft guidelines on the basis of the recommendation of a committee headed by secretary, DEPwD. They provide criteria for availing the facility for scribe/compensatory time for such candidates while taking written examination, including composition of the medical authority for certifying requirement of scribe.
The expert committee in DEPwD is of the view that even if the person does not have disability of 40% or more, there are various types of clinical problems that can affect the writing capacity in cases such as congenital anomaly, post traumatic deformity and amputations, Hansens and other paralysis, arthritic hand and Parkinsonism.
The draft norms recommend that the basis for grant of scribe and compensatory time should be the assessment of the capability of a person to read, write and with that of normal speed.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/exam-scribes-for-disabled-government-seeks-inputs/articleshow/82593141.cms