NDA Candidate Challenges IAF’s Medical Rejection; Delhi HC Seeks AIIMS Opinion
While hearing a plea moved by a National Defence Academy (NDA) candidate who had been declared medically unfit for enrolment in the Indian Air Force, the Delhi High Court yesterday sought an expert opinion from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.
A division bench comprising Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta issued notice to the Central Government and other respondents.
The bench also asked the respondents to file an affidavit explaining the reasoning behind declaring the petitioner medically unfit.
Importantly, the High Court directed AIIMS to constitute a medical board and asked the petitioner to appear before it for examination on June 20, 2025.
The petitioner, through his mother, had filed the plea challenging his medical disqualification for entry into the Indian Air Force and Tri-Services.
During his medical examination, he was diagnosed with haemoglobinopathies, including conditions like Sickle Cell Disease, Beta Thalassaemia (Major, Intermedia, Minor, Trait), Alpha Thalassaemia, and HbE Trait.
Pursuant to this diagnosis, the Air Force Central Medical Establishment, through a letter dated March 18, 2025, declared the petitioner medically unfit.
The petitioner, who secured Rank 266, filed an appeal against this decision, which was subsequently rejected by the Appeal Medical Board via letter dated May 22, 2025.
However, during the present hearing, the high court observed that the Appeal Medical Board’s decision lacked clear reasoning. Therefore, it directed AIIMS to provide an expert opinion on the candidate’s eligibility in view of the applicable ineligibility clause.
The plea before the high court has sought a direction to the authorities to admit him into the NDA for the course commencing on July 2, 2025.
The challenged letters dated March 18, 2025, and May 22, 2025, were issued by the Commanding Officer, Air Force Central Medical Establishment, declaring the petitioner unfit for enrolment in the Indian Air Force and Tri-Services.