JUDGMENT :

M.M.SUNDRESH, J.

The issue involved in this writ appeal lies in a narrow compass viz., is a person, who could only perform a regular function by wearing glasses would become disentitle to a post he can otherwise perform, by making an assessment qua the eyesight without wearing glasses?

2. The respondent before us went through the process of recruitment to the post of Sub-Inspector of Police (Finger print). She has, accordingly, cleared the written examination followed by physical measurement endurance test and viva voce. She was found non-suited pursuant to the examination done by the Medical Board consists of one Eye Specialist, after having been selected provisionally.

3. The test was conducted in tune with the Government Order passed in G.O.Ms.No.1221, Home (Police.9) Department, dated 10.11.2000, by fixing the visual standards upon testing a candidate without wearing glasses. After making the respondent going through the rigor thrice, she was found non-suitable and her candidature was rejected.

4. The learned Single Judge allowed the Writ Petition inter alia holding that the notification does not specify the visual standards. It is not as if the work cannot be done by wearing glasses. What the respondent lacks is only an inadequate and insufficient power in the eyes.

5. Laying a challenge to the aforesaid order passed, the learned Special Government Pleader submitted that the appellants merely relied upon the Government Order passed. The appellants, being the employer of the respondent, cannot question the methodology adopted. In the absence of arbitrariness or mala fides involved in the views expressed by the Medical Board, the learned Single Judge ought not to have allowed the Writ Petition.

6. The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the respondent reiterated the views expressed by the learned Single Judge. It is submitted that it is not even the case of the appellants that the respondent cannot undertake the job by wearing glasses. The insufficient power is only a deficiency in the eyes. If the said contention is accepted, any candidate wearing specs would get excluded automatically. The Government Order relied upon itself is contrary to law and the idea is to create an equal platform for everybody. A residual restriction or barrier, when it does not affect the performance of the candidate will never stand a scrutiny of law.

7. We do not find any merit in this Writ Appeal. As rightly submitted by the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the respondent that it is not a case of the appellants that the respondent cannot function by wearing glasses. The Notification does not specify the extent of visual standards, even otherwise, it is clear, as the respondent can perform by wearing glasses, her candidature cannot be rejected by making her to undergo a test without wearing glasses. The question is the suitability to the job and not otherwise. The classification sought to be made is certainly violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India. If it is approved, a candidate, who is wearing specs, would become disentitled for being considered to the post. It is an indirect way of fixing qualification on the sole premise that a candidate wearing glasses cannot be considered. One has to see the eligibility and suitability of the candidate to the post, but such eligibility cannot be fixed on the basis of a candidate without specs, vis-a-vis, a candidate with specs. Thus, looking from any perspective, we do not find any reason to interfere with the order passed by the learned Single Judge, as we are in respectful agreement with the submission made by the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the respondents that the Government Order relied upon is outdated, opaque and contrary to the wisdoms expressed by the Hon'ble Apex Court. It is the insufficient/inadequate eyesight that makes a person to wear a glass. Once such glass is worn, then, that deficiency goes. Therefore, such person becomes eligible on par with the other perso