Here’s why this matters for every aspirant. Manish Kumar cleared UPSC’s Engineering Services Exam under the physically handicapped quota. He had a government-issued UDID card certifying 45% locomotor disability. But after the medical board flagged his condition; Generalized Dystonia with Myoclonus and Dysarthria; the Railway Board cancelled his candidature, claiming it didn’t qualify as disability under exam rules. The Central Administrative Tribunal agreed. Then came the Delhi High Court. The court slammed the move: ‘You can’t override a government disability certificate with your own medical board.’ Citing a 2021 Supreme Court judgment (Om Rathod), the bench reminded authorities that once the state certifies a disability, no agency can second-guess it; even if they think the condition doesn’t “look” like a classic disability. Kumar’s case wasn’t just about one person. It’s about power; who gets to decide what counts as disability? The state’s medical framework? Or individual departments cherry-picking conditions for convenience? This decision forces UPSC and recruitment boards to align with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016; not their own interpretation. And that’s big for aspirants who’ve been quietly disqualified for conditions not “listed” but still certified by the government. If you’re appearing for any govt exam with a disability certificate; keep this ruling close. It’s your shield against arbitrary cancellations.