Guidelines for Scribe and Facilities for Candidates with Specific Disabilities (Less Than 40%) in Examinations

Introduction\nThis notification from the General Administration Department, Government of Bihar, addresses the provision of scribes and other facilities for candidates with specific disabilities as defined under Section 2(s) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, who are not covered under Section 2(r) (i.e., those with less than 40% disability and difficulty in writing).\n\nThis decision is based on the guidelines issued by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, vide Office Memorandum F. No. 29-6/2019-DD-III dated 10.08.2022. These central guidelines were framed in light of the Hon'ble Supreme Court's order dated 11.02.2021 in Civil Appeal No. 273/2021 (SLP(C)-1882/2021) in the matter of Shri Vikash Kumar Vs. Union Public Service Commission and others.\n\n### Eligibility Criteria\n* The facilities are extended to persons with specified disabilities covered under Section 2(s) of the RPwD Act, 2016, but who are not covered under Section 2(r) of the said Act. This primarily includes candidates having less than 40% disability and facing difficulty in writing.\n* Candidates with benchmark disabilities (40% or more disability) are already covered by separate provisions outlined in departmental circular No. 10668 dated 29.06.2022.\n\n### Certification Requirement\n* Candidates must produce a certificate from a competent medical authority of a Government healthcare institution (as per Appendix-I of the Central OM) affirming their limitation to write and the essential need for a scribe.\n* The medical authority for certification should be a multi-member body including:\n * Chief Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon/Chief District Medical Officer (Chairperson)\n * Orthopaedic/PMR specialist\n * Neurologist (if available)\n * Clinical Psychologist/Rehabilitation Psychologist/Psychiatrist/Special Educator\n * Occupational therapist (if available)\n * Any other expert nominated by the Chairperson.\n\n### Scribe Facility\n* Scribe Provision: Candidates have the discretion to opt for their own scribe or request one from the examination body. Examination bodies may also prepare panels of scribes at District/Division/State levels.\n* Meeting the Scribe: Candidates should be allowed to meet the scribe two days before the examination to assess suitability.\n* Scribe Qualification:\n * If the examination body provides the scribe, their qualification should not exceed the minimum qualification criteria of the examination. The scribe must be matriculate or above.\n * If the candidate brings their own scribe, the scribe's qualification should be one step below the candidate's qualification for the examination. Details of the candidate's own scribe must be submitted as per Appendix-II.\n* Flexibility: Changes in scribes are permitted in emergencies. Candidates may also use different scribes for different language papers, though only one scribe is allowed per subject.\n* Remuneration for Scribes (Bihar Specific):\n * Rs. 500/- for a single shift examination.\n * Rs. 800/- for two shifts if the same scribe is utilized.\n * Rs. 500/- per shift if different scribes are used for two shifts.\n * The examination conducting institution will bear the cost of scribe remuneration.\n\n### Compensatory Time\n* Eligible candidates will be granted compensatory time of not less than 20 minutes per hour of examination.\n* The maximum compensatory time granted will be 60 minutes.\n* For examinations less than an hour, compensatory time will be allowed on a pro-rata basis, with a minimum of 5 minutes and in multiples of 5.\n\n### Use of Aids and Assistive Devices\n* Candidates are permitted to use aids and assistive devices such as prosthetics, orthotics, and hearing aids, as specified in their medical certificate.\n\n### Examination Arrangements and Accessibility\n* Examination bodies should modify application forms to accommodate the specific needs of these candidates.\n* To the extent possible, examinations for these candidates should be held on the ground floor.\n* Examination centers must be accessible for persons with disabilities.\n* Question papers should clearly indicate the time allowed to prevent confusion regarding compensatory time.\n\n### Implementation and Vigilance\n* All recruitment agencies, academic institutions, etc., under the administrative control of each Ministry/Department, are advised to ensure compliance with these guidelines.\n* Strict vigilance will be maintained by examining bodies to prevent misuse of scribe facilities.\n\n### Appendices\n* Appendix-I: Certificate format for persons with specified disabilities requiring a scribe due to writing difficulty.\n* Appendix-II: Letter of Undertaking by the person with specified disability bringing their own scribe.