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RAHUL KUMAR Vs SASHASTRA SEEMA BAL AND ANR

Delhi High Court26 September 2024

Ratio decidendi

The rule this decision rests on

Where a candidate for recruitment has been declared medically unfit due to an unhealed wound caused by laser removal of a tattoo performed immediately before the Review Medical Examination, the medical board's finding may be challenged, and the candidate should be afforded the opportunity to appear before a freshly constituted Medical Board to determine fitness for the post.

Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.

Judgment

As delivered

$~41*IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHIDate of Decision: 26.09.2024+
W.P.(C) 7871/2024 & CM APPL. 32590/2024- interim reliefRAHUL KUMAR
.....PetitionerThrough:
Mr. Ajay Garg, Ms. Tripti Gola, Mr.Uday Garg, Mr. Ganesh Ojha & Ms.Surbhi Soni, Advs.
versusSASHASTRA SEEMA BAL AND ANR.....RespondentsThrough: Mr. Manish Kumar, SPC with Mr.Vinod Tiwari (GP) for UOI.Insp./ED Janak Raj, SSB.CORAM:HON’BLE MS. JUSTICE NAVIN CHAWLAHON’BLE MS. JUSTICE SHALINDER KAURJUDGMENTNAVIN CHAWLA, J (ORAL)1.

This petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of

India challenging the Detailed Medical Examination (DME) report dated 04.04.2024 and Review Medical Examination (RME) report dated 06.04.2024, whereby the petitioner has been declared medically unfit for recruitment to the post of Head Constable (Mechanic) in Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). 2.

In 2023, the petitioner had applied for the post of HC(Mechanic) in

SSB. As per the recruitment process, he had to undergo the following steps

Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:NEELAM Signing Date:27.09.2024 18:21:02

W.P.(C) 7871/2024

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for selection process: i. Physical Efficiency Test (PET) & Physical Standard Test (PST); ii. Written Examination/Common Entrance Test/Computer Based Test (CBT); iii. Documentation, Detailed Medical Examination (DME) and Review Medical Examination (RME); iv. Final Result on the basis of merit in the written examination (Common Entrance Test). 3.

After successful clearing of PET & PST as also the CBT, the

Documentation and DME of the petitioner was conducted. In the DME, he was declared unfit due to the reason that “Tatoo on ventral aspect of Right mid forearm.” The petitioner applied for a Review Medical Examination, which was conducted on 06.04.2024, and wherein he was again declared medically unfit for appointment to the post of HC (Mechanic) with the remarks as under: “2) Brief of Review Medical Examination & Finding thereof C/B by board and the candidate was examined and recently laser therapy done only “1” day back for tattoo removal as per his version. Wound is unhealed and margins are ill-defined with signs of inflammation present. Tattoo on ventral aspect of Rt. mid forearm. 3) Final Opinion a) FIT:b) UNFIT on account of:- So declared unfit on account of unhealed wound post laser tattoo removal with on Rt. mid-forearm (ventral part) being saluting hand. Unfit.”

Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:NEELAM Signing Date:27.09.2024 18:21:02

W.P.(C) 7871/2024

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4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner, by placing reliance on the

decisions of this Court in Davinder Kaur vs. Union of India & Others: 2023 SCC OnLine Del 2900; Shubham Sharma vs. Union of India & Others: 2022 SCC OnLine Del 3726; Vineet Kumar Meena vs. Union of India and Others: 2022 SCC OnLine Del 3939; Nihal Singh vs. Union of India & Another: 2023 SCC OnLine Del 3264; and Sachin Kumar vs. Union of India and Others: 2024 SCC OnLine Del 853, submits that when the petitioner has been declared medically unfit due to unhealed wound caused by the removal of a tattoo done a day prior to the convening of Review Medical Board, liberty would be granted to the petitioner to appear before a freshly constituted Medical Board. 5.

Learned counsel for the respondents submits that in view of the

aforesaid Judgements referred by the learned counsel for the petitioner, the petitioner can be examined by a freshly constituted Medical Board, however, he submits that he will have to seek instructions on the status of recruitment process with respect to batch of the petitioner. 6.

We have considered the submissions of learned counsel for the

parties. 7.

In view of the decisions of this Court referred hereinabove, we direct

the respondents to constitute a fresh Medical Board for re-examination of the petitioner, and in case the petitioner is found eligible, then to proceed with the recruitment process of the petitioner in accordance with law. The Medical Board be constituted within a period of two weeks from today.

Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:NEELAM Signing Date:27.09.2024 18:21:02

W.P.(C) 7871/2024

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8.

In view of above directions, the petition stands disposed of.

9.

Order be given dasti.

(NAVIN CHAWLA) JUDGE

(SHALINDER KAUR) JUDGE SEPTEMBER 26, 2024/ab

Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:NEELAM Signing Date:27.09.2024 18:21:02

W.P.(C) 7871/2024

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