Staff Selection Commission and Ors. v. Ayush Panwar

Delhi High Court · 17 Apr 2025 · 2025:DHC:2689-DB
Navin Chawla; Renu Bhatnagar
W.P.(C) 4849/2025
2025 SCC OnLine Del 976
administrative other Significant

AI Summary

The Delhi High Court directed the appointing authority to assess whether the candidate's finger deformity impedes his duties as a police constable, following prior precedent, without mandating a fresh medical board.

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WP(C) 4849/2025
HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Date of Decision: 17.04.2025
W.P.(C) 4849/2025
STAFF SELECTION COMMISSION AND ORS.....Petitioners
Through: Mr. Jagdish Chandra, CGSC
WITH
Mr. Tushar Arora & Mr. Shubham Kr. Mishra, Advs
WITH
Mr. Vikas, HC, Delhi
Police.
VERSUS
AYUSH PANWAR .....Respondent
Through: Mr. Setu Niket & Ms. Muskan Sharma, Advs.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAVIN CHAWLA
HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE RENU BHATNAGAR NAVIN CHAWLA, J. (Oral)
JUDGMENT

1. Allowed, subject to all just exceptions. CM APPL. 22189/2025 (Exemption)

2. This petition has been filed challenging the order dated 14.05.2024 passed by the Ld. Central Administrative Tribunal, (PB), New Delhi (hereinafter referred to as “CAT”) in OA. No. 1097/2024 titled Ayush Panwar v. Staff Selection Commission & Ors. allowing the OA filed by the respondent herein and directing the petitioner to conduct the re-medical examination of the respondent. W.P.(C) 4849/2025 & CM APPL. 22188/2025

3. Though we find that the present petition is liable to be dismissed mainly on ground of delay and laches, we have proceeded to consider the merits of the petition as well.

4. In the present case, the respondent was declared ‘unfit’ for the appointment to the post of Constable (Executive) Male in the Delhi Police Exam, 2023, on account of “deformity of left finger”, both by the Detailed Medical Examination Board and the Review Medical Examination Board.

5. The Medical Board had also consulted a specialist Orthopedic, who had opined as under: “Candidate unfit due left little finger deformity Clinically- FFD seen at Distal inter phallangeal joint of left little finger Radiologically- Mild shortening of middle and distal phalange l little finger. As per Clause 12 of General grounds for rejection above defect cannot be

6. The learned counsel for the respondent, however, submits that this Court on 14.02.2025, in similar circumstances, in Staff Selection Commission & Ors. v. Ashish Sharma, 2025 SCC OnLine Del 976, had directed that though a fresh medical board is not entitled to be constituted, the petitioner should consider if the conditions suffered by the respondent would impede the performance of his duty as a Constable in the Delhi Police, and communicate the decision to the respondent within a period of two weeks. accepted.”

7. We have considered the submissions made by the learned counsels for the parties.

8. In view of the Judgement of this Court in Ashish Sharma (supra), we dispose of this petition by passing similar direction as passed therein, which is reproduced herein under:

“9. Accordingly, though the respondent would not be entitled to be considered by a fresh medical board, the petitioner would pass an order on the issue of whether the infirmity from which the respondent suffers could impede the performance of his duties as Constable in the Delhi Police and communicate the decision to the respondent within a period of two weeks from today. 10. Needless to say, the decision to recruit or not recruit the respondent as Constable in the Delhi Police would be dependent on the outcome thereof.”

9. Accordingly, the petition stands disposed of in the above terms.

NAVIN CHAWLA, J RENU BHATNAGAR, J APRIL 17, 2025/Pr/Sm/ik Click here to check corrigendum, if any