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Navigating the Labyrinth of Medical Assessment: Delhi HC Closes Dispute on Disability Claims

The Delhi High Court has effectively brought a protracted legal battle to a close regarding the disability status of Kore Nihal Pramod, a petitioner seeking recognition under the benchmark disability category for his UPSC selection. In an order dated March 25, 2026, the court deferred to the Supreme Court’s final determination while providing crucial guidance on the future assessment of "variable" health conditions.

A Complex Path to Certification

The case originated from a dispute over the petitioner's hearing impairment. Initially certified with a 60% permanent disability by the Maharashtra state medical board, the petitioner subsequently faced conflicting reports. While the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) assessed his impairment at a mere 9.66%, the Research and Referral Hospital pegged it at a significant 84.2%. This discrepancy led to a series of legal challenges traversing between the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and the High Court.

The Supreme Court's Final Intervention

The matter reached the Supreme Court, which ordered an examination by a Super Special Medical Board. That board ultimately determined the disability to be 69.64%. While acknowledging the petitioner's hearing loss, the board noted the potential for surgical or technological intervention, rendering the condition ineligible for "permanent disability" status under current government notifications.

In its November 24, 2025 order, the Supreme Court ruled: > "The matter stands closed, holding the respondent ineligible for being considered under the permanent disability category for appointment to any post pursuant to the examination in question."

A "Variable" Future: The High Court's Closing Remarks

With the Supreme Court’s definitive ruling on the specific UPSC exam in question, the Delhi High Court disposed of the current petition. However, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav highlighted an essential nuance for future administrative actions: the disability is of a "variable" nature.

The court explicitly stated that this ruling does not bar the petitioner from seeking reassessment in future endeavors. By noting that "the permanent disability as it exists on the relevant date shall be taken into account," the court has ensured that the current ruling does not act as a permanent, absolute medical bar, but rather a snapshot based on the evidence of that specific timeframe.

Key Observations

The judgment leaves clear instructions for future recruitment processes:

• Finality of Findings: "As of now, the disability assessment as has been approved by the Supreme Court will have to be treated the final disability i.e. 69.64% unless the same is further reassessed depending upon the further health condition of the petitioner."
• The Right to Re-evaluation: "The Supreme Court has expressly observed that the petitioner’s disability is of a variable nature and, for any future consideration, the extent of permanent disability existing on the relevant date shall be taken into account."
• Employer Guidance: "As and when the petitioner participates in any of the examination or for seeking any further benefit, the concerned Employer shall be guided by the observations of the Supreme Court and shall be at liberty to re-examine the petitioner, if necessity so arises."

This resolution balances the need for finality in competitive recruitment with the recognition that medical conditions—and the technology to treat them—are rarely static, upholding the dignity and rights of candidates under the evolving legal framework for persons with disabilities.