Legal Milestone: High Court Directs KPSC to Set Up Exam Center for Pregnant Candidate

Legal Milestone


1. The Petition and Judicial Intervention

A 31-year-old candidate from Kalaburagi, Mahalaxmi, who is in an advanced stage of pregnancy, approached the Karnataka High Court after the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) refused her request to write the Gazetted Probationers (Group A & B) main examinations in her hometown. The KPSC had originally designated centers only in Bengaluru and Dharwad for the exams scheduled between April 15 and 19.

2. The Court’s Scathing Observation

Justice Dr. Chillakur Sumalatha, while hearing the petition, strongly criticized the KPSC's argument that setting up a center for a single candidate would be a "waste of public money" and "logistically difficult."

  • Constitutional Rights: The court ruled that denying an opportunity to a deserving candidate due to pregnancy violates Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality and special provisions for women.

  • Planning vs. Waste: The judge remarked, "Our country spends crores on elections and by-elections, often wasted due to a lack of planning. Yet, the State claims it cannot spend for a deserving candidate's future."

  • Security Feasibility: The court noted that since the candidate was not asking for a center without electricity or CCTV, the state has a responsibility to provide reasonable accommodation.

3. The Final Directive

The High Court has ordered the KPSC to:

  1. Conduct the main examination for the petitioner anywhere in Kalaburagi as per her convenience.

  2. Ensure full security and CCTV surveillance, as required for competitive exams.

  3. Officially intimate the candidate about the specific center and logistics by April 9, 2026.

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