The Supreme Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to issue an appointment order or call letter to a woman candidate selected for the post of Constable Civil Police after an independent medical examination by King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, raised doubts over her earlier rejection on the ground of squint eyes.
A Bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi allowed an appeal filed by Akanksha Devi, setting aside the Allahabad High Court's order that had refused to direct a fresh medical examination because the recruitment process had already concluded.
Background
Akanksha Devi had applied for the post of Constable Civil Police under the Uttar Pradesh Police Constable Civil Direct Recruitment, 2023. After receiving a call letter, she appeared for Document Verification (DV) and the Physical Standard Test (PST) on December 28, 2024, and successfully cleared both stages.
She subsequently appeared before the Medical Board on April 22, 2025. However, she was informed that she was medically unfit due to an alleged squint eye condition. A re-examination conducted by the Division Medical Board on April 25, 2025, also declared her medically unfit on the same ground.
Challenging the assessment, Devi independently consulted two eye specialists in Kanpur. Their medical opinions indicated that her vision and colour perception were normal. She subsequently submitted a representation on May 16, 2025, requesting another medical examination by an independent institution. After her request was rejected, she approached the High Court, which dismissed her plea.
Considering the circumstances, the Supreme Court directed King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, to constitute a medical board comprising ophthalmology experts to examine the candidate and submit its opinion regarding her medical fitness, particularly concerning the alleged squint condition.
The medical examination was conducted on October 8, 2026, by a team of four doctors. The committee submitted its report dated October 16, 2026.
According to the report, her best-corrected vision was 6/6 in both eyes. Her ocular movements, anterior segment and fundus were also found within normal limits.
The Orthoptic Clinic, however, recorded exophoria to intermittent exotropia with good control, along with certain observations regarding eye deviation.
After examining the medical report, the Bench found sufficient grounds to accept the candidate's plea that she had been deprived of an employment opportunity despite successfully clearing the earlier selection stages.
The Court observed:
"The aforesaid Report would persuade us to accept the plea of the Appellant of having been deprived of her legitimate right for being appointed to the post of Police Constable Civil Police after having successfully cleared all the tests."
The Bench further noted that the KGMU medical board had certified her vision as proper and normal.
Allowing the appeal, the Supreme Court set aside the High Court's impugned order and directed the respondents to issue an appointment order or call letter to Akanksha Devi, subject to her otherwise being eligible for appointment.
The Court also clarified:
"We make it explicitly clear that the Appellant shall not claim seniority over the candidates who have already been appointed till date."
Accordingly, the appeal was allowed, and any pending applications were consigned to the records.
