For the ITBP aspirant with only one testis, the Delhi High Court delivered a clear message: the physical standards for India’s paramilitary forces are not flexible. His plea for relief was turned down, with the court stressing that medical fitness in such forces is not a matter of preference, but a requirement rooted in operational necessity.
A division bench comprising Justices C Hari Shankar and Ajay Digpaul passed the judgment, dated 15 May, after reviewing the petitioner’s medical reports and the criteria laid down by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
“We do not find any legal or factual basis to interfere with the decision of the respondents, by which the petitioner has been declared medically unfit for service,” the bench concluded.
‘Perfect health is not optional’: Court
The court began by drawing a sharp line between civilian jobs and service in paramilitary units, where the physical expectations are far more rigorous.
“The basic difference between civil employment and employment in paramilitary forces is that the required physical strength is a must for a person who is seeking employment in the paramilitary forces,” the judges stated.
They further explained, “The respondent's requirement for the personnel to be in perfect health is not merely a matter of preference but a necessity for operational effectiveness and safety.”
Service in harsh terrains demands full fitness
Indian paramilitary forces are often deployed in physically demanding and harsh environments. These include high-altitude zones, desert areas, and other challenging terrains that test both mental and physical endurance.
The bench underscored this operational context, “Given these demands, the forces require the personnel to be in an optimal physical condition to ensure their safety, effectiveness and adequate service to be rendered to the force.”
Against this backdrop, the aspirant’s condition — a surgically removed left testis — was examined by a review medical board. It found him unfit under existing CAPF medical standards.
No parity with other forces, says Bench
The petitioner argued that his medical condition had not disqualified candidates in the Indian Air Force and requested the same consideration for ITBP. But the court was not persuaded.
“The medical standards are decided by the respective forces. Therefore, a disease which has not been categorised for the purpose of declaring a person unfit in any paramilitary force/army will not bind such other paramilitary forces to have the same standard,” the court clarified.
It added that medical officers — not judges — are the most qualified to determine a candidate’s physical fitness, especially when lives may depend on it.
In closing, the court stated firmly that the aspirant’s condition “fell clearly within the specifications that render him ineligible for service under the existing Central Armed Police Forces guidelines.” Therefore, his comparison with the Air Force held no legal weight.
With this ruling, the High Court has reinforced the idea that physical standards in paramilitary forces are shaped by the specific needs and risks of their duties — and those standards are not open to reinterpretation.
A division bench comprising Justices C Hari Shankar and Ajay Digpaul passed the judgment, dated 15 May, after reviewing the petitioner’s medical reports and the criteria laid down by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
“We do not find any legal or factual basis to interfere with the decision of the respondents, by which the petitioner has been declared medically unfit for service,” the bench concluded.
‘Perfect health is not optional’: Court
The court began by drawing a sharp line between civilian jobs and service in paramilitary units, where the physical expectations are far more rigorous.
“The basic difference between civil employment and employment in paramilitary forces is that the required physical strength is a must for a person who is seeking employment in the paramilitary forces,” the judges stated.
They further explained, “The respondent's requirement for the personnel to be in perfect health is not merely a matter of preference but a necessity for operational effectiveness and safety.”
Service in harsh terrains demands full fitness
Indian paramilitary forces are often deployed in physically demanding and harsh environments. These include high-altitude zones, desert areas, and other challenging terrains that test both mental and physical endurance.
The bench underscored this operational context, “Given these demands, the forces require the personnel to be in an optimal physical condition to ensure their safety, effectiveness and adequate service to be rendered to the force.”
Against this backdrop, the aspirant’s condition — a surgically removed left testis — was examined by a review medical board. It found him unfit under existing CAPF medical standards.
No parity with other forces, says Bench
The petitioner argued that his medical condition had not disqualified candidates in the Indian Air Force and requested the same consideration for ITBP. But the court was not persuaded.
“The medical standards are decided by the respective forces. Therefore, a disease which has not been categorised for the purpose of declaring a person unfit in any paramilitary force/army will not bind such other paramilitary forces to have the same standard,” the court clarified.
It added that medical officers — not judges — are the most qualified to determine a candidate’s physical fitness, especially when lives may depend on it.
In closing, the court stated firmly that the aspirant’s condition “fell clearly within the specifications that render him ineligible for service under the existing Central Armed Police Forces guidelines.” Therefore, his comparison with the Air Force held no legal weight.
With this ruling, the High Court has reinforced the idea that physical standards in paramilitary forces are shaped by the specific needs and risks of their duties — and those standards are not open to reinterpretation.
You may also like
Yusuf Pathan opts out of all-party delegation; TMC says 'Centre can't unilaterally decide'
Uttarakhand CM highlights state's financial needs to 16th finance commission
Lookfantastic deal offers Laura Mercier 'complexion blurring' make-up set with SPF for under £50
Who Is Ali Khan Mahmudabad? Ashoka University Prof Arrested For Calling Op Sindoor Press Briefing 'Illusion' Of 'Secular India'
Navi Mumbai Cyber Fraud: 53-Year-Old Kharghar Woman Duped Of ₹78.82 Lakh In Facebook-Promoted Cryptocurrency Investment Scam; Case Registered
