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On a petition filed by three Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) candidates alleging that they had been declared medically unfit for the post of Head Constable (Ministerial) only for having religious tattoos on their 'right' forearms, the Allahabad High Court last week directed the Union government's counsel to seek instructions in this regard.

It is to be noted that as per the guidelines issued by the Indian Army pertaining to "tattoo policy for candidates appearing for SSB interview with permanent body tattoo(s)", non-offensive, small tattoos are allowed on the forearms of 'both' the hands, however, as per medical guidelines issued by Additional Director General, Medical (SSB), such a tattoo is only allowed on the left forearm. 

The matter was heard before the bench of Justice Siddhartha Verma. The petitioners' main contention was that though no such rule was mentioned in the advertisement issued by the SSB for the Head Constable post, they got their tattoos removed after the first medical examination. They were still denied the opportunity for medical re-examination. 

The petitioners, 2 of whom belong to the Scheduled Castes (SC) category (who as per the Indian Army guidelines are allowed to have tattoos on any part of the body to participate in the SSB interview), had alleged that they had successfully cleared the written and typing test and were otherwise healthy and fit, except the religious tattoos on their right forearms. 

Therefore, terming their declaration as medically unfit only because they had religious tattoos on their right-hand forearm instead of left, arbitrary, the petitioners had sought the Court's aid.

The petitioners had prayed before the Court for a direction to the SSB recruitment office to conduct a re-medical Board for giving them a proper opportunity again after the removal of the tattoo. The petitioner had also urged the Court to quash medical reports by which they were declared medically unfit.

Therefore, directing the Union's and SSB's counsels to seek instructions in this regard, the Court posted the matter for February 23 for further hearing. 

Cause Title: Avneesh Kumar and 2 others vs Union of India and 4 others