$~99 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Date of Decision: 06.04.2026 + W.P.(C) 2031/2026 and CM APPL. 9949/2026 RAJNESH .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Manoj Kumar Gupta and Ms. Devangana Sharma, Advs.

versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Respondents Through: Dr. Vijendra Singh Mahndiyan, CGSC along with Mr. Rohan Tripathi, GP with Mr. Devender Kumar and Mr. Vaibhav Singh, Advs.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KSHETARPAL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT MAHAJAN J U D G M E N T (ORAL) ANIL KSHETARPAL, J.:

1. The Petitioner aspires to join the Indian Air Force as Agniveer Vayu (Science Subjects). Her candidature, however, did not culminate in appointment, as she was declared medically unfit on the ground of Accessory Nipple Bilateral [hereinafter referred to as “ANB”], and the said opinion was affirmed by the Appeal Medical Board. Aggrieved thereby, the present Writ Petition has been filed.

2. Some facts, to the extent necessary for adjudication of the issue involved in the present Petition, are required to be noticed.

3. Pursuant to the recruitment process for Agniveer Vayu Intake 01/2026, the Petitioner applied for induction in the Indian Air Force [hereinafter referred to as “IAF”] as Agniveer Vayu (Science Subjects). The Petitioner qualified the written examination and thereafter underwent the further stages of selection. On 31.07.2025, she appeared for the initial medical examination at Air Force Station Yelahanka, Bangalore, where she was declared medically unfit vide Medical Unfitness Certificate dated 01.08.2025 on account of six counts. On appeal, however, she was referred to specialists at Command Hospital Air Force, Bangalore, and was ultimately declared fit on 19.08.2025 in respect of those grounds.

4. Thereafter, the Petitioner received a call letter and was required to report at Air Force Station Jalahalli, Bangalore. When she reported for joining on 30.12.2025, she was subjected to a pre-enrolment medical examination. At that stage, she was declared medically unfit on the ground of ANB.

5. The Petitioner again availed the appellate medical process. She was referred to a Graded Specialist (General Surgery) at Command Hospital Air Force, Bangalore, who examined her on 04.02.2026. Based on the said specialist opinion, the Appeal Medical Board, by its decision dated 06.02.2026, declared the Petitioner unfit for enrolment in terms of Para 3.14.2(c) of IAP 4303 (6^th Edition).

6. Learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that the Petitioner has wrongly been declared medically unfit and places reliance upon the opinion dated 10.02.2026 issued by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi [hereinafter referred to as “AIIMS”]. It is submitted that the said opinion records, inter alia, that the biopsy site had healed, that there was post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, that there was no evidence suggestive of lobular development, and that the Petitioner could go for training/admission. On that basis, it is contended that the Petitioner ought to be treated as medically fit.

7. Per contra, learned counsel for the Respondents submits that the Petitioner suffers from ANB and, therefore, cannot be considered for appointment in view of the governing service medical standards. It is further submitted that the opinion of AIIMS is not determinative, particularly when the recruitment framework itself provides that the medical standards for the Armed Forces are at variance with civil medical standards, that certificates/opinions from civil hospitals are not acceptable in the recruitment medical process, and that the opinion of the Armed Forces medical authorities is final.

8. This Court has considered the rival submissions. A Coordinate Bench of this Court in SSC & Ors. v. Aman Singh, 2024: DHC:8441-DB has reiterated that, in matters concerning recruitment to disciplined forces, the standards of medical fitness are distinct and more stringent, and that judicial review over the opinion of Medical Boards is limited. The Court has, however,