The Delhi High Court has directed recruitment authorities in the Armed Forces and paramilitary forces to ensure a reasonable time gap between the Detailed Medical Examination (DME) and the Review/Appeal Medical Examination (RME), observing that conducting both examinations on consecutive days reduces the review process to an empty formality.

A Division Bench of Justice C. Hari Shankar and Justice Om Prakash Shukla made the observation while hearing a plea by a Coast Guard aspirant who was disqualified from the post of Navik (General Duty) after being found to have Stage-I Gynaecomastia. The petitioner had failed both the DME and the Appeal Medical Examination, which were held on successive days.

Noting that medical conditions, particularly minor ailments, are unlikely to change within a single day, the Court held that the purpose of a review medical examination is defeated if it is conducted immediately after the initial assessment. While refraining from prescribing a fixed time gap, the Bench directed that future examinations must be spaced reasonably, leaving the decision to the discretion of medical boards.

In the present case, the Court ordered a fresh medical examination of the petitioner at the Army Research and Referral Hospital, observing that Gynaecomastia is not a serious medical condition and may be reversible in certain cases. The Court clarified that if the petitioner is found fit, he would be considered for recruitment in the next batch.

The High Court also directed that its order be circulated to the Ministries of Defence and Home Affairs for compliance across all Armed Forces and paramilitary recruitment processes.

Appearances: 
For the Petitioner: Mr. Abhinay Sharma, Mr. Pooran Chand Roy, Advs.
For the Respondent: Mr. Jagdish Chandra Solanki CGSC, Ms. Aishwarya Shina GP, Mr. Siddharth Bajaj and Ms. Maanya Saxena, Advs.