Delhi High Court on Disqualification from Police Recruitment due to Deviated Nasal Septum (DNS)

Headnote:

The Delhi High Court directed a fresh medical re-examination of a candidate disqualified from recruitment to the post of Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and CAPFs on the ground of a left-sided Deviated Nasal Septum (DNS). The Court observed that the Ministry of Home Affairs’ guidelines permit candidates with mild or moderate DNS to be considered fit and that the earlier medical reports failed to specify the severity of the condition. Since the petitioner had also undergone corrective surgery, the Court deemed it appropriate to order a fresh ENT examination at the Army Research and Referral (R&R) Hospital, New Delhi.

Background:

• The petitioner, Uday Singh, was disqualified from recruitment to the post of Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) for having a left-sided Deviated Nasal Septum (DNS).

• Both the Detailed Medical Examination (DME) and the Review Medical Examination (RME) upheld his disqualification.

• The petitioner’s counsel relied on Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines stating that candidates with mild or moderate DNS with both nasal airways open may not be rejected.

• It was contended that neither the DME nor the RME reports classified the petitioner’s DNS as mild, moderate, or severe.

• The petitioner further submitted that he had undergone corrective surgery, and no longer suffered from DNS.

Court’s Observations:

• The Court noted that DNS is a curable medical condition and that the government guidelines explicitly allow candidates with mild or moderate DNS to be considered fit.

• Since the earlier medical reports lacked categorization of the DNS severity, and given the petitioner’s surgery, the Court found it prima facie appropriate to allow re-examination.

• Both parties agreed to have the petitioner re-examined at the Army Research and Referral (R&R) Hospital, New Delhi.

• The Court directed the petitioner to report to the Medical Superintendent of the R&R Hospital on 1 November 2025 at 11:00 AM, to be examined by a competent ENT specialist.

• The specialist was to opine on whether the petitioner still suffered from DNS and whether it posed an impediment to his recruitment, considering the official MHA medical standards.

• The Court clarified that if the petitioner was found medically fit, further recruitment proceedings would continue accordingly.

Legal Provisions Discussed:

• Article 226, Constitution of India – Power of the High Court to issue writs.

• Recruitment Medical Standards issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) – Guidelines for medical fitness in Delhi Police and CAPFs recruitment.

Decision:

• The writ petition was disposed of with directions for a fresh ENT examination at the Army Research and Referral Hospital, New Delhi.

• The respondent’s counsel (Senior CGSC) was directed to communicate the order to the hospital authorities.

• The Court ordered that if the petitioner was found fit upon re-examination, his selection process would proceed accordingly.

Citation: 2025:DHC:XXXXX

Case: Uday Singh v. Union of India & Anr.

Court: High Court of Delhi at New Delhi

Coram: Justice C. Hari Shankar & Justice Om Prakash Shukla

Date of Decision: 29 October 2025

Writ Petition (Civil) No.: 16151 of 2025