Delhi Tribunal Orders Fresh Height Test For Constable Aspirant Declared Short, With Physical Test If She Meets The Height Standard

In brief

The question

Whether the applicant should be granted a fresh measurement of her height after receiving conflicting measurements in different recruitment processes

The court held

The Tribunal disposed of the application by directing the respondents to arrange a fresh height measurement at an appropriate institution, following the applicable rules and the methodology used for other candidates.

It also directed

The directions were to be complied with within three weeks of receipt of the order; if the applicant met the height requirement, the respondents were to proceed in accordance with law, including taking consequential action regarding PE&MT. If she participated in PE&MT and succeeded, she would be entitled to appointment subject to all other eligibility conditions

There was no order as to costs, and any pending miscellaneous applications were also disposed of

01Facts

The applicant, a candidate for Constable (Executive) Female in the Delhi Police Examination, 2025, was disqualified for not meeting the prescribed height of 157 cm under the OBC category. Her height was initially recorded as 155.70 cm and, on appeal, as 156.40 cm

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She relied on a prior measurement of 157.20 cm in the Delhi Police Constable (Female) Examination, 2023, and on her successful qualification in a Haryana Police physical measurement test

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She sought, among other relief, to set aside her disqualification and obtain appointment. The Tribunal heard the application under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985

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02Issues

i.Whether the applicant should be granted a fresh measurement of her height after receiving conflicting measurements in different recruitment processes

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ii.Whether, if she meets the prescribed height requirement and successfully completes the remaining selection requirements, she should be permitted to proceed in the recruitment process and be considered for appointment

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03Law Applied

The application was filed under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, which provides the Tribunal’s jurisdiction to adjudicate service-related applications

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The Tribunal directed that the fresh measurement be conducted in accordance with the applicable rules and instructions, using the same methodology as for other candidates.

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No specific recruitment rule, statutory provision governing the height standard, or binding precedent was analysed; the order referred to an earlier Tribunal order granting similar relief.

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Provisions in the judgment · 1 · Linked ones open on LawLens

Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 Section 19

04Reasoning

The applicant’s recorded height in the current recruitment process fell below the prescribed minimum, but she relied on a prior Delhi Police measurement above that threshold and a successful measurement in another recruitment process

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Without determining which measurement was correct, the Tribunal considered a fresh measurement under consistent, rule-compliant conditions to be an appropriate way to resolve the discrepancy. It therefore directed a fresh measurement and linked further participation in the selection process to its outcome and the applicant’s satisfaction of the remaining eligibility requirements

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