Thalassemic's dream to join civil services about to come true

Updated on: Monday, August 22, 2011

Thalassemia patient Sukhsohit Singh, who was denied final clearance even after securing 833 rank in Civil Services examinations, is set to join the services after PM's intervened into the matter.

"After I came to know through the media reports that the Prime Minister had stepped in and approved my selection, I got in touch with the Department of Personnel and Training, where the officials told me that my case was considered very seriously after which the go ahead was given. They told me that they will be communicating me the formal order very shortly," Panchkula-based Sukhsohit told.

Rejected by the medical board at Delhi's Safdarjung hospital to join any branch of the civil services as he was suffering from the rare genetic disorder, 25-year-old Sukhsohit Singh said his appointment had been cleared following a fresh DoPT recommendation to the Prime Minister favouring his selection.

"After my case was rejected by the medical board, I had approached many Union Ministers including Dinesh Trivedi and Ambika Soni, who had extended all help to me," he said.

"Ambika ji had earlier said the whole case needs to be dealt with a humanistic touch. She had also written a letter to the PMO in connection with my case," said Sukhsohit, whose father M S Bawa is a wing commander in the Indian Air Force and brother Mukhmohit Singh is a doctor.

Sukhsohit Singh was diagnosed with the disorder at the age of two, after which he has been regularly undergoing transfusion.

Suffering from 'thalassemia major', Sukhsohit claims to be the first person with the disorder to have cleared the civil services examination in 2008, with a rank of 833 in the general category. The results of the examination were declared late last year.

Sukhsohit said that after his case, he was happy to learn that DoPT was reviewing nine other similar cases.

"Well, I am extremely happy and delighted, but real victory will come when the new disability law will be passed in the Parliament. Under the law, Thalassaemia has been included as a disability and reservation in jobs proposed," he said.

Sukhsohit Singh said while his case may set a new precedence for others suffering from genetic or physical disorders like him, but he would like the new law to come into existence soon.

"While I have been able to fight for my rights, there are others like me who get dejected as all may not get the same support from the system as I have got. We need to have this new law for them," he said.

According to Sukhsohit, denying him entry into civil services, "will have been violation of my human rights and right to life and dignity and right to equal opportunities to public services."

He said that he had made three preferences Indian defence accounts service, Indian railway accounts services and Railways personnel services and had duly attached the relevant medical certificates when he applied for the UPSC examination.

"I was not declared as ineligible then," he said.

He said that it was for the first time that DoPT had to deal with a candidate suffering from the disorder.

Thalassemic's dream to join civil services about to come true

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