Unchallenged AIIMS medical-board findings establishing eligibility prevail over the State’s contrary disability assessment.

The respondent was selected for the post of Compounder/Nurse Junior Grade, but his selection was cancelled after the State’s examination reportedly found disability in both legs.

The recruitment condition made candidates with disability exceeding 40% in one leg eligible.

The respondent produced a certificate showing 50% disability in his left lower limb; on the Single Bench’s directions, an AIIMS Jodhpur Medical Board examined him twice and reported 70% disability in the left lower limb and no disability in the right leg

The Single Bench allowed his writ petition and directed the State to offer him appointment.

The State appealed after 112 days, seeking condonation of delay

Whether the 112-day delay in filing the appeal should be condoned

Whether the Single Bench was justified in relying on the unchallenged AIIMS Medical Board reports to find the respondent eligible under the recruitment condition

Whether the State’s reliance on State of Uttar Pradesh v. Ravindra Kumar Sharma, (2016) 4 SCC 791, warranted setting aside the Single Bench’s order

Section 5 of the Limitation Act permits the court to condone delay for sufficient cause; the court allowed the application on the reasons stated in it, which the respondent did not oppose.

Under the recruitment condition set out in the judgment, a candidate with disability exceeding 40% in one leg was eligible for the post.

The State relied on State of Uttar Pradesh v. Ravindra Kumar Sharma, (2016) 4 SCC 791, in support of its contention that the State examination report was final; however, the Court held that precedent inapplicable to the facts of this case.

The AIIMS Medical Board examined the respondent on two occasions and consistently assessed 70% locomotor disability in the left lower limb, with no disability in the right lower limb.

The State did not challenge those reports, and the Court found no basis to treat them as false or fabricated.

Applying the recruitment condition to those findings, the respondent met the eligibility requirement.

The Court therefore found that the Single Bench had properly relied on the AIIMS reports and that the precedent cited by the State did not alter the result.

but dismissed the appeal as devoid of force.

It upheld the Single Bench’s direction to offer the respondent appointment as Compounder/Nurse Junior Grade.