Gujarat Police Recruitment: Candidates Allege Mysterious Height Loss in Court Petition
In a perplexing development that has stirred confusion among job seekers, several candidates participating in Gujarat's ongoing police recruitment drive have approached the Gujarat High Court with a startling claim: they appear to have "shrunk" in height between recruitment cycles. The controversy centers on the Physical Efficiency Test (PET), where a minimum height requirement of 165 centimeters is strictly enforced.
Height Discrepancy Halts Aspirations for Khaki Uniform
During the recent PET, some candidates were measured below the 165cm mark, abruptly ending their dreams of joining the police force. However, the petitioners have asserted that in the previous recruitment drive, just a couple of years ago, they were comfortably measured at 165cm or more and were deemed eligible to proceed to further stages of the selection process. This discrepancy has left them baffled and seeking legal recourse.
Petitioners and Court's Response to the Height Issue
Among the individuals who have filed petitions in the high court are Tushar Bhaliya and Govind Sindhav from Gandhinagar district, Pappu Parmar from Banaskantha, and Mukesh Chauhan from Ahmedabad. These candidates had applied for various positions within the police department and were previously declared eligible based on their height measurements. In the current recruitment cycle, however, they were found to be under 165cm and subsequently declared ineligible.
As similar cases continued to emerge, Justice Nirzar Mehta of the Gujarat High Court implemented a preliminary measure. Each petitioner is required to deposit Rs 10,000 with the court registry, which will be refunded if their height claim is verified as accurate. To resolve the matter definitively, the court has ordered a remeasurement under strict medical supervision.
Court Orders Supervised Remeasurement with Transparency Measures
The candidates have been directed to appear before the medical officer at GMERS Civil Hospital in Sola on February 19, bringing proof of their deposit. Hospital authorities have been instructed to make all necessary arrangements for the procedure. To ensure complete transparency and eliminate any future disputes over measurements, the court has mandated that the entire remeasurement exercise be videographed. A detailed report must be submitted to the court by the returnable date of February 23, 2026.
This case highlights the rigorous standards and procedural challenges in police recruitment, underscoring the importance of accurate and consistent physical assessments. The outcome of the court-ordered remeasurement could set a precedent for handling similar disputes in future recruitment drives across the state.
