Delhi High Court Upholds Medical Disqualification for Army Recruitment Due to Vision Defects

Court emphasizes national security concerns over compromised vision in military personnel

In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has dismissed the writ petition filed by Uma Maheshwara Sastry Durbaka challenging his medical disqualification from recruitment to the Indian Army. The decision was based on medical findings of Central Nebular Corneal Opacity in his right eye, which the court deemed a substantial disqualification, citing national security concerns.

The petitioner had applied for admission to the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Indian Naval Academy through the UPSC Examination Notice No. 10/2024-NDA-II. Although he successfully cleared the written examination and interview, his medical examination revealed vision-related issues, leading to his disqualification.

Initially informed on January 16, 2025, of his medical ineligibility due to an 'accessory nipple (Lb)', the petitioner appealed, leading to an Appeal Medical Board on February 18, 2025. The board found him unfit for the Navy but fit for the Army. Subsequent communications and evaluations, however, reaffirmed his unfitness for both services due to substandard vision and corneal opacity.

Despite undergoing examinations at civil hospitals, which reported 6/6 vision in both eyes, the Review Medical Board conducted at the Army Research & Referral Hospital upheld the disqualification due to the same vision defect.

The petitioner argued that his condition was not a disqualification under existing instructions, yet the court remained unconvinced. The judgment emphasized that compromised vision could prejudice national security, especially in military contexts.

In delivering the judgment, Mr. C. Hari Shankar, J., stated that the court must exercise caution when it comes to military recruitment, as vision defects could pose significant risks to national security. Consequently, the court declined to interfere with the concurrent medical findings and dismissed the petition.

The ruling underscores the stringent medical standards upheld in military recruitment processes and the judiciary's role in ensuring these standards are maintained to safeguard national interests.

Bottom Line:

Medical disqualification for recruitment to the Army due to vision-related defects upheld by the Court, citing national security concerns.

Statutory provision(s): Service Law

Uma Maheshwara Sastry Durbaka v. Union of India, (Delhi)(DB) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2792885