In a writ petition, the petitioner sought a direction to re-measure her height via a Medical Board due to inconsistencies. The High Court, relying on Division Bench precedent, dismissed the plea stating that minor variations do not entitle a candidate to approach the Writ Court, and the matter is a question of fact for authorities.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No 16919 of 2018
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Annu Kumari D/o Kamal Kishore Sah, Resident of Village- Nauranga, P.S. Chautham, District- Khagaria.
... ... Petitioner/s
... ... Respondent/s
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Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr Chitranjan Sinha, Sr Advocate with Mr Vijay Anand, Advocate For the S t a t e : Mr Sheo Shankar Prasad, SC VIII Mr Sanjay Kumar, AC to SC VIII For the B o a r d : M/s Sanjay Pandey, Binod Kr Mishra, Vivek Anand Amritesh, Advocates
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CORAM: HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE MADHURESH PRASAD
ORAL ORDER
4 19-07-2022
Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the respondents.
On three different occasions, the measurement of petitioner’s height has varied in the course of selection, but has consistently failed to meet the requisite height. The petitioner had participated for selection as Constable, in the process being conducted by the Central Selection Board for Constable (for brevity, the Board ) pursuant to Advertisement No 1 of 2017.
Learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of the
Patna High Court CWJC No.16919 of 2018(4) dt.19-07-2022 2/3
petitioner submits that, variation in the height being recorded at three different stages, is suggestive of the inaccuracy in the measurement and, therefore, this Court should direct the authorities to make a final and conclusive measurement with the aid of Medical Board.
Learned counsel for the Respondent-Board submits that minor variations, which have occurred, cannot enure to the petitioner’s benefit. The petitioner, inspite of three remeasurements, has consistently been found below the minimum height criteria of selection for Constable. There is no allegation of any mala fide against any person in the process of selection. Apart from that in view of the fact that the matter is being considered under writ jurisdiction, judgment of the Division Bench, in the case of Ritu Kumari -Versus- State of Bihar & Others passed in Letters Patent Appeal No 895 of 2015 , is relevant to the case in hand. The Division Bench has clearly held that, what is the height of the petitioner and whether it is of required standard or not, are questions of fact and have to be decided by recording evidence. The Division Bench has clearly held that the writ jurisdiction is not appropriate course of remedy in the context.
This Court, having considered the rival submissions,
Patna High Court CWJC No.16919 of 2018(4) dt.19-07-2022 3/3
would observe that decision of the Division Bench in the case of Ritu Kumari (supra) squarely covers the instant case. The issue in hand is also one where the petitioner disputes the correctness of measurement of height. Placing reliance on the fact that there is variation at three occasions, petitioner is claiming a direction for reconsideration with aid of a Medical Board.
This Court would also observe that minor variations may occur in re-measurement/s being done by the authorities. Based on such variations, a candidate cannot be permitted to approach the Writ Court for a direction to re-measure his/her height till such time that measurement is to the candidate’s liking. More so, since earlier measurements/re-measurements have consistently found the height to be less than requisite height.
Relief in the writ petition is also covered by decision of the Division Bench of this Court in the case of Ritu Kumari (supra), and is, accordingly, dismissed.
(Madhuresh Prasad, J)
M.E.H. /-
U
2 issues framed by the court
Whether the High Court can direct a re-measurement of the petitioner's height with the aid of a Medical Board based on minor variations in earlier measurements.
Whether the writ jurisdiction is the appropriate remedy to challenge the correctness of height measurements for a police constable selection post.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
Ritu Kumari -Versus- State of Bihar & OthersExplained¶24
Ritu Kumari -Versus- State of Bihar & Others; Letters Patent Appeal No 895 of 2015
Annu Kumari
State Of Bihar
Central Selection Board for Constable
Madhuresh Prasad
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
