Height measurement for disqualification must adhere to rounding guidelines, ensuring fairness in candidate evaluation processes.

JUDGMENT :

(PER ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.)

1. Heard Mr. Venkatesh A. Shastry, learned Advocate for the Petitioners and Ms. P. B. Chavan learned Advocate for Respondents. Learned Advocates jointly submits that, since the issues raised in both the Writ Petitions are similar, both these Petitions can be heard together and disposed of by a common Judgment.

2. Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith. Heard both petitions finally with the consent of the learned Advocates appearing for the parties.

3. Petitioners both being 21 years of age are aspirants of joining Central Armed Forces.

4. Petitioners are aggrieved by the PST Rejection Slip, by which the Petitioners are disqualified from appearing for Detailed Medical Examination (“DME”) of Constable (GD) in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and SSF, Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles, and Sepoy in Narcotics Control Bureau Examination – 2025, on the ground that the height of the Petitioners is less than the prescribed height.

5. Vide Notice dated 5^th September 2024 (“said Notice”), Respondent No.2 invited applications from eligible candidates, for the post of Constable, General Duty (GD in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and SSF, Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles and Sepoy in Narcotics Control Bureau Examination – 2025. Said Notice prescribes 3 stages for the recruitment of the candidate/s for the said post, viz. (1) Computer Based Examination (“CBT’); (2) Physical Standard Test (“PST”) & Physical Efficiency Test (“PET”); and (3) Detailed Medical Examination (“DME”).

6. Petitioners being eligible and satisfying the requisite qualifications prescribed in the said Notice applied for the said post. Admit cards were issued to the Petitioners to appear for the Computer Based Examination .

7. Petitioners qualified in the Computer Based Examination, as such were called to appear before the Respondent No.4 Board at CRPF, Pune, for Physical Standard Test and Physical Efficiency Test. Petitioners successfully cleared the Physical Efficiency Test and thereafter underwent the Physical Standard Test.

8. Petitioners were declared disqualified in the Physical Standard Test on the ground that the height of the Petitioner in WP No. 12664 of 2025 was recorded as 164.7 cms, whereas height of the Petitioner in WP No.12671 of 2025 was recorded as 164.6 cms, which was less than the standard height viz. 165 cms, prescribed in the said Notice. Accordingly, Respondent No.4 issued PST Rejection Slip dated 23^rd August, 2025 and 25^th August, 2025 to the Petitioners.

9. Petitioners are therefore before this Court seeking the following substantive reliefs :-

In Writ Petition No.12664 of 2025:-

“A] That this Honourable High Court be pleased to pass writ of mandamus or the order in the similar nature and extend the benefit of relaxation to the Petitioner as contemplated in clause 2(d) of "Revised Uniform Guidelines" dated 20th May 2015 and thereby to give direction to the Respondents to set aside the Rejection Slip dated 25^th August 2025 and declare the Petitioner to be eligible for Detailed Medical Examination (DME).”

In Writ Petition No.12671 of 2025:-

“A] That this Honourable High Court be pleased to pass writ of mandamus or the order in the similar nature and extend the benefit of relaxation to the Petitioner as contemplated in clause 2(d) of "Revised Uniform Guidelines" dated 20th May 2015 and thereby to give direction to the Respondents to set aside the Rejection Slip dated 23^rd August 2025 and declare the Petitioner to be eligible for Detailed Medical Examination (DME).”

10. Mr. V. A. Shastry, learned Advocate for the Petitioner submits that Respondents have erroneously disqualified the Petitioners. He submits that clause 2(d)