The court upheld the fitness standards for armed forces, affirming that Varicose Veins constitute legitimate grounds for candidate disqualification.

J U D G M E N T

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The petitioner, who is an aspirant to appointment to the post of Constable (General Duty) in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), seeks to quash Exts.P4 and P5 medical reports and to direct the 2^nd respondent to conduct fresh Detailed Medical Examination, including radiological and imaging assessments for determining the petitioner's actual medical fitness.

2. The petitioner submitted application for recruitment to the post of Constable (General Duty) in the CAPFs and SSF, Rifleman (GD) in the Assam Rifles and Sepoy in the NCB conducted by the 2^nd respondent-Staff Selection Commission. The petitioner cleared the written examination and was qualified for attending Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Physical Standard Test (PST). The petitioner cleared both the PET and PST.

3. Thereafter, the petitioner was subjected to Detailed Medical Examination (DME). In the DME, it was found that the petitioner has Varicose Veins in both legs. The petitioner states that he had Varicose Veins earlier but it was cured much before the DME. The petitioner was informed that he may avail the statutory remedy of Review Medical Examination (RME).

4. The RME was conducted on 17.11.2025. In the RME also, the petitioner was declared unfit on the ground that he was suffering from Varicose Veins in both legs. The petitioner states that the decision declaring the petitioner as medically unfit is arbitrary and unjust. The Doppler findings noted in the RME report represent normal post-sclerotherapy changes, medically referred to as “canalisation with pseudo- reflux after sclerotherapy”. These findings do not indicate the presence of an active Varicose Vein condition. They are only residual post-treatment changes. The Varicose Vein is a fully treatable condition having permanent medical solution. The decision taken by the respondents suffers from procedural irregularity, contends the petitioner.

5. The respondents resisted the writ petition.

The respondents submitted that the petitioner is suffering from Varicose Veins in both legs. Varicose Vein is a physical condition which disentitles the petitioner for appointment. The writ petition is therefore only to be dismissed.

6. I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned DSGI representing the respondents.

7. The petitioner is an aspirant for recruitment to the post of Constable (General Duty) in the CAPFs. In the Detailed Medical Examination as also in the Review Medical Examination, it was found that the petitioner was suffering from Varicose Veins. As per the Uniform Guidelines for medical examination test for recruitment in CAPFs, Varicose Vein is a general ground for rejection. The Uniform Guidelines provide that the diagnosis of Varicose Vein should be made on the basis of dilatation and tortuosity of veins and after confirmation of incompetency of Sapheno-femoral junction / Sapheno-popliteal junction or perforators by relevant clinical tests. The Uniform Guidelines specifically states that cases of Varicose Veins, even if operated, are not to be accepted because basic defect remains unchanged. In the DME as well as RME, competent Medical Officers have found that the petitioner is suffering from Varicose Vein. They have found the petitioner unfit for recruitment.

8. This Court, in the judgment in W.P.(C)

No.46048/2025, has held that the standard of physical fitness for armed forces and police forces is more stringent than for civilian employment and once no malafides are attributed and the Doctors of the Forces, who are well aware of the demands of duties of the Forces in the terrain in which the recruited personnel are required to work, have formed an opinion that a candidate is not medically fit for recruitment, opinion of private or oth