Delhi HC Questions MHA’s Rule Disqualifying Candidates from Armed Forces for Right Forearm Tattoo
The Court was hearing a plea by a candidate rejected from armed forces recruitment due to a tattoo on his right forearm and questioned whether such a restriction is legally sustainable
Delhi HC Questions MHA Guidelines Disqualifying Candidates from Armed Forces for Right Forearm Tattoos
The Delhi High Court has questioned the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) over recruitment guidelines that disqualify candidates from joining the armed forces solely because they have a tattoo on their right forearm.
A Division Bench of Justice C. Hari Shankar and Justice Om Prakash Shukla prima facie observed, “We do not understand how the mere presence of a tattoo on the right forearm of a candidate can disqualify him for recruitment to the Forces.”
The Court was hearing a petition filed by a candidate who had been rejected for the post of Motor Mechanic Vehicle in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) due to a tattoo on his right forearm. The petitioner, however, stated that he is willing to undergo surgery to remove the tattoo if permitted to proceed with recruitment.
During the hearing, the Bench referred to the MHA’s guideline on tattoos. The guideline permits tattoos on “traditional sites of the body like the inner aspect of the forearm,” but allows them only on the left forearm, not the right.
The Bench observed, “A reading of the aforesaid guideline indicates that the respondents do not find anything amiss if the tattoo is on ‘traditional sites of the body like inner aspect of the forearm’ but are agreeable to the tattoo being only on the left forearm and not on the right forearm. This appears to be because the present young generation is considerably under the influence of western culture and engraving of skin art.”
The Court asked the Union counsel, Rajendra Sahu, whether such a restriction is “at all sustainable in law.”
Considering the disqualification rule to be prima facie questionable, the Bench said, “As, prima facie, we are of the view that the basis for disqualifying the petitioner may be questionable, issue notice to show cause as to why rule nisi be not issued.”
Notice was therefore accepted by the Union’s counsel on behalf of the respondents. The Court directed that the counter-affidavit be filed within one week, with no extension permitted, and the rejoinder, if any, also within one week thereafter.
The matter is now listed for November 17, 2025, for final disposal.
Case Title: VIPIN KUMAR v. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS
Bench: Justice C Hari Shankar and Justice Om Prakash Shukla
Order Date: 28 October 2025