make SSC portal blind friendly 2025 – Delhi HC mandate

Delhi High Court orders SSC to make SSC portal blind friendly 2025, instructing enhanced accessibility for visually impaired candidates, with action plan due Nov 12.

Delhi High Court orders major digital inclusion push: make SSC portal blind friendly 2025

Overview

In a landmark verdict dated July 25–26, 2025, the Delhi High Court has firmly directed the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) to make SSC portal blind friendly 2025, mandating improved accessibility for candidates with visual impairment. This directive arose from a petition by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), supported by more than 60 candidate grievance emails, highlighting profound exclusion due to the portal’s face‑recognition photograph upload system

Background: Why the judgment matters

Legal petition & discrimination claims

Santosh Kumar Rungta, a representative of NFB, filed the plea arguing that visually impaired applicants are unable to complete essential live-photo upload through face recognition, thus being effectively denied participation in exams such as CGL, CHSL, and MTS & Havaldar recruitment for 2025 The bench, comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, termed this exclusion a violation of constitutional rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, and 21

Evidence of distress

Over 60 visually impaired aspirants submitted emails detailing the inability to capture live photographs, patients of inaccessible design across the board. The court noted these complaints and emphasized SSC review them as immediate priority alongside long‑term policy revamp

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Court’s directives & timeline

• Immediate review of all grievances in those 60 emails.
• Explore alternative options to live photo capture for blind candidates.
• Sit with petitioner to draft new inclusive processes.
• Report back with action plan by next hearing on November 12, 2025

The bench made clear that making SSC portal blind friendly 2025 is not optional but a legal obligation under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which mandates equal access at all stages of recruitment

What this means for visually impaired aspirants

1. Equal access guaranteed: No longer should visually impaired candidates self-exclude due to technical barriers.
2. Simplified photo mechanism: Alternatives (e.g. upload from caregiver’s assistance, document‑based verification) will be considered.
3. Active stakeholder involvement: SSC must coordinate with NFB and technical accessibility experts for sustainable solutions.
4. Future‑ready design standards: Portal redesign should incorporate accessible interfaces, screen reader support, keyboard navigation, high‑contrast mode, alt tags, etc.

Deeper context: Why digital inclusion is urgent

Expert perspective & broader rulings

Digital access has increasingly been interpreted as part of the fundamental right to life under Article 21, especially after a Supreme Court ruling requiring accessible e‑KYC processes for persons with disabilities Together, these cases reinforce the imperative that state and statutory portals be inclusive by design.

Academic studies on accessibility gaps

A 2019 survey paper from India noted that computer‑based tests (CBTs) largely ignore barriers faced by visually impaired users, such as incompatible screen readers, poor contrast, absence of alt text, and inaccessible captcha or face recognition systems Devdiscoursearxiv.org.

SEO‑smart internal links for readers

While informing them about SSC reforms, we can guide learners to helpful resources:

• Explore NCERT Courses at NCERT Courses
• Stay updated with governance and exam-related Current Affairs at Current Affairs
• Access structured Notes for government exam prep at Notes
• Practice with MCQs for SSC and other exams at MCQ’s
• Watch relevant explain‑videos via Videos
• Review updated Syllabus info at Syllabus
• Download free NCERT PDFs or mind maps at Downloads

External authority link

To support schools and institutions implementing similar accessibility standards, Mart Ind Infotech provides services to make school websites and portals inclusive and compliant with accessibility norms.

Why this ruling boosts equality & trust

• Strengthens E‑E‑A‑T (Expertise, Authority, Trust): SSC will now incorporate domain and disability experts in portal design.
• Boosts user confidence: Blind candidates feel included in national recruitment processes.
• Sets precedent: Other public services—railway booking, e‑KYC, education portals—must follow similar inclusive standards.
• Aligns with global norms: Follows UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and WCAG accessibility guidelines.

Proposed technical measures for SSC portal redesign

• Alternative photo upload: Manual verification or assistive upload via phone/caretaker.
• Screen‑reader compatibility and keyboard navigation across steps.
• Accessible CAPTCHA alternative or audio/visual challenge.
• High‑contrast color scheme, properly labeled form fields.
• Text-to-speech and braille‑friendly downloads (e‑admit cards, guidelines).
• Clear help guides, accessible FAQs and video tutorials with captions.

Timeline & compliance expectations

Looking forward: Systemic benefits

• Inclusive recruitment: Visual impairment no longer a barrier to SSC exams.
• Policy ripple effect: Sets benchmark for other central/state recruitment bodies.
• Legal precision: Confirms constitutional duties on digital accessibility.
• Empowerment story: Reinforces social justice by enabling educational and career opportunities for persons with disabilities.

10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does “make SSC portal blind friendly 2025” mean?
It means SSC must redesign its portal to accommodate visually impaired users—offering photo‑upload alternatives and accessible navigation so blind candidates can apply.

2. Which exams are affected by this Delhi HC directive?
The order pertains to SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL), Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL), and MTS & Havaldar exams 2025, as named in the petition.

3. Why is this ruling significant for digital accessibility?
It reinforces the idea that online portals constitute public services bound by constitutional equality and disability rights.

4. How will visually impaired candidates upload photos now?
SSC must explore alternatives to live facial recognition—like caregiver‑assisted uploads, manual verification, or official submission kiosks.

5. When is the next hearing scheduled?
SSC is required to present its action plan on November 12, 2025.

6. Can SSC ignore this ruling and proceed as usual?
No. The Delhi HC’s order is binding, and failure to comply could lead to contempt proceedings.

7. How can aspirants track this progress?
SSC should publish updates on its portal. Petitioner organizations like NFB may issue press statements. Websites like Mart Ind Infotech provide accessibility guidelines too.

8. Will this ruling help other disabled groups too?
Yes. Systemic accessibility upgrades (screen reader support, alt‑text) benefit all Persons with Disabilities, not only the blind.

9. What legal precedent supports this decision?
A prior Supreme Court decision held that digital access—including e‑KYC verification—is intrinsic to the right to life under Article 21 for people with disabilities

10. How does this impact new websites and educational portals?
It sets a compliance benchmark: all exam portals, educational platforms, and institutional websites should adopt inclusive design practices proactively.