The Uttarakhand High Court has stepped into a contentious issue concerning a woman candidate from the state who cleared the prestigious Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination but was barred from joining the Indian Police Service (IPS) for allegedly failing to meet the minimum physical standards. The court has issued a significant interim order, asking the Union government and the Ministry of Home Affairs to explain their stance.
The Core of the Controversy: A 3-Centimeter Hurdle
Anupriya Rai, a resident of Champawat district, achieved an impressive All India Rank 189 in the Civil Services Examination (CSE) of 2024. Despite her stellar performance, her dream of joining the IPS was halted because her height was measured at 147 cm, falling short of the mandated minimum of 150 cm by a mere 3 centimeters. Rai contends that she is entitled to a relaxation of 5 cm in the height requirement as she hails from the hilly Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, where natives are traditionally of shorter stature.
She argued that this relaxation is a recognized norm for candidates from specific regions, including Kumaon, Gorkhas, Assamese, and those from Nagaland. However, authorities denied her this concession, leading to her being declared unfit for all technical services, including the IPS, by the medical board at Delhi's Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital.
Legal Journey: From Tribunal to High Court
Before approaching the high court, Rai had sought relief from the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). On November 13, the CAT dismissed her application. The tribunal acknowledged that Rai belonged to the Kumaon region, which is eligible for height relaxation. However, it ruled that this waiver applies exclusively to candidates from reserved categories. Since Rai was competing in the unreserved (general) category, she was deemed ineligible for the benefit, according to the tribunal's interpretation.
Unsatisfied with this outcome, Rai moved the Uttarakhand High Court. Her counsel presented the argument that Rule 8(3) of the regulations governing the medical examination for CSE 2024 had been misinterpreted by the authorities. This misinterpretation, they claimed, wrongly deprived her of the relaxation she was entitled to based on her regional origin.
High Court's Interim Order and Next Steps
A division bench comprising Justices Ravindra Maithani and Alok Mahra heard the petition. Taking note of the arguments, the bench passed an interim order of considerable consequence. The court directed, "As an interim measure, till the next date of listing, one post of IPS in Civil Services Examination, 2024, shall be kept vacant."
This directive ensures that a position remains available pending the final resolution of the case. Furthermore, the high court issued formal notices to the Union government, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the chairman of the medical board at DDU Hospital, seeking their responses.
The respondents have been granted four weeks to file their counter-affidavits in the matter. The court has scheduled the next hearing for February 11, when it will examine the government's stance and proceed further with the legal proceedings.
Broader Implications and Awaiting Justice
This case highlights the ongoing debate around uniform physical standards in civil services and the provisions for relaxations based on ethnic and geographical factors. Rai's petition challenges the categorical exclusion of unreserved category candidates from such relaxations, even if they belong to recognized communities from hilly regions.
The high court's decision to keep an IPS post vacant underscores the seriousness with which it views the petition. The outcome of this legal battle could set a precedent for future cases involving similar claims for relaxation in physical standards for the UPSC. For now, Anupriya Rai's fate, and potentially the interpretation of rules for many others, hangs in the balance until the next hearing in February.
