Kerala High Court
Anoop Vijayappan vs The Union Of India on 19 December, 2025
Author: N. Nagaresh
Bench: N.Nagaresh
2025:KER:98964
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH
FRIDAY, THE 19TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2025 / 28TH AGRAHAYANA, 1947
WP(C) NO. 47065 OF 2025
PETITIONER:
ANOOP VIJAYAPPAN
AGED 24 YEARS
CHIRATHARACHIRA, VECHOOR P.O,
EDAYAZHAM, KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686144
BY ADVS.
SRI.NABIL KHADER
SHRI.DANIC ANTONY
RESPONDENTS:
1 THE UNION OF INDIA
REPRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO GOVT.
OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS,
NEW DELHI, PIN - 110001
2 THE STAFF SELECTION COMMISSION
REPRESENTED BY THE CHAIRMAN/ SECRETARY STAFF SELECTION
COMMISSION BLOCK-12 CGO COMPLEX LODHI ROAD NEW DELHI,
PIN - 110003
3 DIRECTORATE GENERAL (MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS)
CRPF (RECRUITMENT BRANCH), EAST BLOCK-07, LEVEL -4,
SECTOR-01, RK PURAM, NEW DELHI, PIN - 110066
* ADDL.4 PRESIDING OFFICER, DETAILED MEDICAL BOARD
DV/DME BOARD OF CT/GD-2025, CENTRAL RESERVE POLICE
FORCE, PALLIPURAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
2025:KER:98964
W.P.(C) No.47065/2025
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* ADDL.5 PRESIDING OFFICER, REVIEW MEDICAL BOARD OF
CT/GD-2025
CENTRAL RESERVE POLICE FORCE, PALLIPURAM,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
(ADDITIONAL RESPONDENTS 4 AND 5 ARE IMPLEADED
AS PER ORDER DATED 19.12.2025 IN IA. NO.1/2025)
BY ADV.
SMT.O.M.SHALINA, DSGI
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR
ADMISSION ON 19.12.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY
DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
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W.P.(C) No.47065/2025
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N. NAGARESH, J.
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W.P.(C) No.47065 of 2025
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Dated this the 19th day of January, 2026
JUDGMENT
~~~~~~~~~ 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 2nd 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 2025:KER:98964 W.P.(C) No.47065/2025 :4: Sepoy in the NCB conducted by the 2nd 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 2025:KER:98964 W.P.(C) No.47065/2025 :5: 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 2025:KER:98964 W.P.(C) No.47065/2025 :6: 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 2025:KER:98964 W.P.(C) No.47065/2025 :7: 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 other Government Doctors to the contrary cannot be accepted as the recruited personnel are required to work for the Forces.
For the aforesaid reasons, I do not find any merit in the writ petition. The writ petition is hence dismissed.
Sd/-
N. NAGARESH, JUDGE aks/13.01.2026 2025:KER:98964 W.P.(C) No.47065/2025 :8: APPENDIX OF WP(C) NO. 47065 OF 2025 PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS Exhibit P1 TRUE COPY OF THE E-ADMIT CARD OF THE PETITIONER FOR PHYSICAL EFFICIENCY TEST (PET), PHYSICAL STANDARD TEST (PST) ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT Exhibit P2 TRUE COPY OF REPORT OF PHYSICAL EFFICIENCY TEST (PET) AND THE PHYSICAL STANDARD TEST (PST) OF THE PETITIONER Exhibit P3 TRUE COPY OF THE ADMIT CARD OF THE PETITIONER FOR DETAILED MEDICAL EXAMINATION ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT Exhibit P4 TRUE COPY OF THE REPORT OF UNFIT UNDER DETAILED MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF THE PETITIONER DATED 14.11.2025 Exhibit P5 TRUE COPY OF THE REPORT OF REVIEW MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF THE PETITIONER DATED 17.11.2025 Exhibit P6 TRUE COPY OF THE TREATMENT SUMMARY OF THE PETITIONER DATED 11.09.2025 ISSUED BY THE ST. THOMAS INSTITUTE OF RESEARCH ON VENOUS Exhibit P7 TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 21.11.2025 ISSUED BY THE DOCTOR WHO TREATED THE PETITIONER FOR VARICOSE VEIN Exhibit P8 TRUE COPY OF THE PROFILE OF THE DOCTOR WHO ISSUED EXT P7 FITNESS CERTIFICATE TO THE PETITIONER