IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Manmohan, Navin Chawla, JJ.
Mandeep Kumar - Appellant
Versus
Union Of India & Ors. - Respondents
Civil Writ Petition No. 14694 of 2021, Civil Miscellaneous No. 46266 of 2021
Decided On : 20-12-2021
Medical Fitness - Petitioner's Challenge to Unfitness Declaration - The court upheld the decision of the Respondents declaring the petitioner medically unfit due to Deviated Nasal Septum right side (DNS right side) despite subsequent surgery and issuance of a fitness certificate.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner challenged the memorandum of unfitness and review medical examination report declaring him medically unfit due to Deviated Nasal Septum right side (DNS right side). He sought directions to be recruited as head constable (ministerial) based on a subsequent fitness certificate.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the subsequent fitness certificate did not negate the fact that the petitioner was medically unfit at the time of examination, upholding the decision of the Respondents. The writ petition was dismissed with liberty to apply for the next batch of Head Constable (Ministerial) if eligible.
Issues: Challenge to memorandum of unfitness and review medical examination report, seeking recruitment as head constable (ministerial) based on subsequent fitness certificate.
Ratio Decidendi: The subsequent surgery and issuance of a fitness certificate did not change the fact that the petitioner was medically unfit at the time of examination, leading to the court upholding the decision of the Respondents.
Final Decision: The writ petition was dismissed with liberty to apply for the next batch of Head Constable (Ministerial) if eligible.
JUDGMENT
Manmohan, J. - Present writ petition has been filed challenging the memorandum of unfitness dated 15th November, 2021 and the Review medical examination report dated 17th November, 2021 whereby the Petitioner has been declared medically unfit on account of Deviated Nasal Septum right side (DNS right side). Petitioner also seeks directions to the Respondents to recruit the Petitioner as head constable (ministerial) since he has been declared fit by the Medical Officer, Department of ENT, MA Civil Hospital, Hisar.
2. Learned counsel for the Petitioner states that the Petitioner applied for the post of Head Constable (Ministerial) in the Shashastra Seema Bal [SSB] on 04th September, 2018. He states that as part of the recruitment process, the Petitioner was called for detailed medical examination on 13th November, 2021.
3. He states that in the said medical examination, the Petitioner was given the impugned Memorandum of unfitness dated 15th November, 2021 by the Assistant Commandant (Med), Board -1, on the grounds of DNS right side and Dental Fluorosis and the Petitioner was referred for Review Medical Examination on the said two issues.
4. He states that the Petitioner underwent his Review Medical Examination on 16th/17th November 2021 wherein he was again declared unfit on account of DNS right side.
5. He states that the Petitioner subsequently underwent surgery to get the issue of DNS right side rectified in the Civil Hospital, Hisar, Haryana on 27th November, 2021 and has been issued a certificate of fitness dated 02nd December, 2021.
6. Having heard learned counsel for the Petitioner, this Court is of the view that the certificate of fitness dated 02nd December, 2021 confirms the fact that the Petitioner was medically unfit on 15th and 17th November, 2021 inasmuch as the Petitioner had been subsequently operated for DNS right side on 27th November, 2021. Consequently, on the date the Petitioner was medically examined, he was unfit.
7. In view thereof, there is nothing illegal or irregular with regard to the decision making process of the Respondents, which this Court alone examines in writ jurisdiction. Finding no error in the decision of the Respondents, the present writ petition along with pending application is dismissed with liberty to the Petitioner to apply for the next batch of Head Constable (Ministerial) in SSB, if eligible, in accordance with law.
The subsequent issuance of a fitness certificate did not negate the petitioner's medical unfitness at the time of examination.
The court upheld the validity of the medical authorities' decision declaring the petitioner unfit based on prior examinations, despite a later certificate of fitness post-surgery.
The court affirms the right to a fair medical evaluation and directs a fresh examination for the petitioner, emphasizing procedural fairness in administrative decisions.
Conflicting medical opinions can lead to the court directing a specific medical assessment to resolve the dispute.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the limitation of interference by the High Court in matters of medical fitness determined by the Medical Board and Review Medical Board, emphasizin....
The court affirmed the necessity of fair re-evaluation in recruitment processes when discrepancies in medical fitness findings arise.
The court upheld the principle of fair assessment by directing an independent medical board to evaluate the petitioner's fitness, reinforcing the right to equality and fair treatment in employment pr....
A candidate declared unfit in a medical examination for recruitment does not hold grounds to contest employment selection results, especially when approached belatedly after vacancies are filled.
The court ruled that once the petitioner was declared fit for recruitment, he should be considered for appointment to the post of Constable (GD).
The finality of the R&R Hospital's report in determining the petitioner's fitness for duty.
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