Koushik Barman v. Union Of India And ORS.

11.02.2025 Court No.23 ML/Item No.-18 [Milan, A.R. (Ct.)]

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side WPA 27132 of 2024 Koushik Barman versus Union of India & Ors.

Ms. Juin Dutta Chakraborty, Mr. Debasish Kundu, Mr. Bidan Modak ....for the Petitioner Ms. Rashmi Bothra, Mr. Iswar Chandra Maiti ....for UOI Affidavit of service is taken on record in Court today.

The petitioner participated in the recruitment process of Constable (GD) in Central Armed Police Forces (in short, "CAPFs"), SSF and Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles Examination for the year 2024.

The petitioner after being successful in the Computer Based Examination (in short, "CBE") was called for Physical Standard Test (in short, "PST"). The petitioner was found 169.7 cms. in height measurement and 78.85 cms. in chest measurement. The petitioner, therefor, was unable to meet the chest criteria which has to be 80 cms. under normal condition and 85 cms. on expanded condition. Although, the petitioner says

that he had competed earlier examination for the recruitment of Constable (GD) in CAPFs, SSF and Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles Examination wherein the petitioner had qualified on the height criteria and chest measurement.

The measurements are, therefor, incorrect.

Assuming without admitting that the petitioner is entitled to the benefit of height being over 169.5 cms. which can be rounded up and held to be 170 cms. to allow the petitioner to compete in the next stage of selection process but the chest criteria which under normal chest measurement has not been fulfilled. The petitioner is not entitled to any relaxation of chest measurement.

In the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the petitioner's candidature has been correctly rejected for not having been able to meet the chest criteria. The petitioner though contends that in previous selection process for the same post, the petitioner was found fit in the PST and as such, the petitioner cannot be rejected for having not been able to meet the selection criteria. The writ petitioner under no applicable rules can be given relaxation of 1.15 cms. on chest measurement. The writ petition is accordingly dismissed without any order as to costs.

(Arindam Mukherjee, J.)