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2026 Supreme(Gau) 210
THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT, (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)
DEVASHIS BARUAH, J.
Miss Rushika Pathak, D/o. Sri Indra Pathak – Petitioner
Versus
The Union of India, Represented By The Commissioner And Secretary To The Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ors. – Respondents
WP(C) No.136 of 2026
Decided On : 09-01-2026
Important Points
Subject
Employment Law - Recruitment Standards
Headnote
(B) Legal Principles - The principle that height measurements should consider rounding up under the specified guidelines to avoid disqualification based on minor discrepancies was emphasized, reinforcing the notion of fair recruitment processes. (Paras 6-8)
(C)
Issues: The primary issue regards the appropriate measurement and application of height requirements for candidates, and whether the rounding rule is applicable during the Physical Standard Test phase. (Para 6)
(D)
Ratio Decidendi: The court concluded that fractions over 0.5 cm must be rounded up as per established guidelines, which supports a fair interpretation of recruitment standards and avoids the exclusion of deserving candidates. (Para 8) (E)
Result: The court set aside the rejection of the petitioner’s application and directed the authorities to reconsider her for the position. (Para 10)
For the Petitioner:Mr. R. Borah, Advocate
For the Respondents: Ms. S. Baruah, CGC
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. height requirements for recruitment. (Para 2 , 3 , 4 , 5) |
| 2. rounding off height measurements. (Para 6 , 7) |
| 3. court's directive regarding reconsideration. (Para 9 , 10) |
| 4. final order and clarifications. (Para 11 , 12) |
JUDGMENT :
DEVASHIS BARUAH, J.
Heard Mr. R. Borah, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and Ms. S. Baruah, the learned CGC, who appears on behalf of the respondents.
2. The petitioner herein is aggrieved by the rejection of the petitioner’s candidature on the ground that the petitioner’s height is below the prescribed limit.
3. The facts of the instant case as is apparent from the materials on record is that in pursuance to a Notice dated 05.09.2024 for recruitment to the post of Constable GD in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and SSF, Rifleman GD in Assam Rifles and Sepoy in Narcotics Control Bureau Examination-2025, the petitioner participated in the said recruitment process for the post of Constable GD.
4. It is very pertinent to take note of that Clause 12.5 of the Notice dated 05.09.2024 stipulates the Physical Standard Test (PST). The said Clause 12.5.1 deals with height, which being relevant, is reproduced herein under:-
12.5.1 Height:
12.5.1.1 Male: 170 cms
12.5.1.2 Female: 157 cms
12.5.1.3 Few categories of candidates are allowed relaxation in the heights mentioned above. Relaxed standard of height for such candidates are as follows:
| S. No. | Relaxation in Height to few categories of Candidate | Male (Cms) | Female (Cms) |
| (a) | All candidates belonging to Scheduled Tribes. | 162.5 | 150.0 |
| (b) | All Scheduled Tribe candidates of North Eastern States (NE States). | 157.0 | 147.5 |
| (c) | All Scheduled Tribe candidates of Left-Wing Extremism affected districts. | 160.0 | 147.5 |
| (d) | Candidates falling in the categories of Garhwalis, Kumaonis, Dogras, Marathas and candidates belonging to the States/ UTs of Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. | 165.0 | 155.0 |
| (e) | Candidates hailing from the North-Eastern States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. | 162.5 | 152.5 |
| (f) | Candidates hailing from Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) comprising of the three Sub-Divisions of Darjeeling District namely Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong and includes the following "Mouzas" Sub-Division of these Districts: - (1) Lohagarh Tea Garden (2) Lohagarh Forest (3) Rangmohan (4) Barachenga (5) Panighata (6) ChotaAdalpur (7) Paharu (8) Sukna Forest (9) Sukna Part-I (10) Pantapati Forest-I (11) Mahanadi Forest (12) Champasari Forest (13) SalbariChhatpart-II (14) Sitong Forest (15) Sivoke Hill Forest (16) Sivoke Forest (17) ChhotaChenga (18) Nipania. | 157.0 | 152.5 |
5. From a perusal of the above quoted Clause, it would be seen that for female, the height is 157 cm in terms with Clause 12.5.1.2. However, there are certain relaxations for certain categories of candidates, e.g., if the candidate belongs to the State of Assam, the height for a female candidate is 155 cm. The petitioner's height was measured and it was found that the height of the petitioner was 154.6 cm, and as such, the petitioner was disqualified in the Physical Standard Test. It is under such circumstances, the petitioner has approached this Court.
6. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submitted that taking into account that the petitioner's height is 154.6 cm, in terms with the Uniform Guidelines for medical examination meant for recruitment in CAPF, NSG and AR, more particularly Clause 2(d), the height of the petitioner should have been rounded off to 155 cm in as much as the petitioner's height was 154.6 cm. In that regard, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner also referred to a judgment of the learned Coordinate Bench of this Court in the case of Arup Ray vs. the Union of India & Others, WP(C) No.6436/2025 dated 02.12.2025 wherein also the learned Coordinate Bench of this Court held that in terms with Clause 2(d) of the Guidelines dated 20.05.2015, if the height fraction is of 0.5 cm and more
