Height measurement rounding in recruitment guidelines must apply at the initial Physical Standard Test to ensure eligibility for candidates.

ORDER :

SUBODH ABHYANKAR, J.

1. Heard finally, with the consent of the parties.

2. This petition has been filed by the petitioner under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, against the order dated 21.10.2024 (Annexure-P/1) whereby, the petitioner, who had appeared in the examination for the post of Sub-Inspector in the Delhi Police/Central Armed Police Forces, has been informed that since his height is 169.6 centimeters, which is less than the standard height for the said post, he is not eligible for the said post. An appeal was also preferred by the petitioner against the said order, but the same has also been dismissed as the height of the petitioner has been found to be 169.6 centimeters only.

3. The case of the petitioner is that he had appeared in the aforesaid examination, the guidelines regarding which have been issued in the year 2015, which are known as Guidelines for Recruitment Medical Examination in Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles. The petitioner’s contention is that even assuming the height of the petitioner to be 169.6 centimeters, the benefit of Sub-clause (d) of Clause 2 of the said Guidelines has to be given to him, which provides that, while measuring height, fraction of centimeter less than 0.5 will be ignored, and 0.5 cm will be rounded off to the next higher centimeter. Thus, the petitioner’s contention is that his height ought to have been rounded off to 170 cms, and thus, it is submitted that the petitioner was eligible to participate in the further recruitment process.

4. A reply to the petition has also been filed, wherein, it has been averred in para 8 that as per the para/point 2(d) of Uniform Guidelines for Medical Examination Test for Recruitment in CAPFs NSG & AR issued by GOI, MHA dated 20.05.2015, the provision of rounding off of the fraction of height is applicable in Detail Medical Examination (DME) for taking into account/measuring the weight of the candidates and not for the rounding off the fraction of height at PST stage. Hence, the plea of petitioner is not sustainable.

5. Thus, the contention of the respondent is that the aforesaid guidelines would be applicable at the subsequent stage when the weight of the candidate is also measured. It is also submitted that although the petitioner’s appeal has already been rejected, however, the respondents are ready to measure the petitioner’s height once more, and in such circumstances, no case for interference is made out.

6. In rebuttal, counsel for the petitioner has submitted that it is not correct to say that the aforesaid Guidelines is applicable from the second stage of recruitment, and a bare perusal of the Guidelines would clearly reveal that it is applicable for the recruitment to the post of Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces Examination at the stage of Physical Standard Test (PST) and not at the stage of Detailed Medical Examination (DME).

7. In support of her submissions, counsel for the petitioner has also relied upon the decision rendered by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana in the case of Kuldeep Vs. Union of India and Others , reported as 2019 SCC OnLine P&H 7540, as also the decision rendered by the Calcutta High Court in the case of Mr. Pronab Halder & Anr. Vs. Union of India & Ors., passed in WPA No.26627/2020 dated 04.12.2024.

8. Heard. Having considered the rival submissions, and on perusal of the documents filed on record, it is found that the petitioner has appeared in the examination for the post of Sub Inspector in Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces. So far as measurement of physical sta