A medical rejection based on an alleged squint eye has cost a woman candidate years of uncertainty. Now, the Supreme Court has stepped in, directing the Uttar Pradesh government to issue her appointment order after an independent medical assessment found her eyesight to be normal.
The case concerns Akanksha Devi, who had successfully cleared the document verification and Physical Standard Test (PST) stages of the Uttar Pradesh Police Constable recruitment process. She was scheduled to undergo the next stage of selection after receiving a call letter for verification and physical testing at the Reserve Police Line in Kanpur Dehat on December 28, 2024.
Her candidature, however, hit a roadblock during the medical examination. The Medical Board reportedly informed her orally that she was unfit for appointment because of a squint eye.
A subsequent examination by the Divisional Medical Board, conducted under Rule 15(6)(d) of the Uttar Pradesh Police Constable and Head Constable Service Rules, 2015, as amended in 2017, also declared her medically unfit on the same ground.
Despite the decision, she was not provided with a formal rejection order or any written endorsement explaining the outcome.
Independent Medical Reports Challenge Disqualification
Unwilling to accept the assessment, Akanksha Devi approached two qualified medical institutions for independent examinations. Both reportedly certified that her eyesight and colour perception were normal.
The conflicting findings raised questions about the basis of her disqualification. She subsequently submitted a representation seeking another medical examination at an independent institution, but the request was rejected.
She then moved the Allahabad High Court, which dismissed her plea on the ground that the recruitment process had already concluded. The matter eventually reached the Supreme Court.
KGMU Examination Proves Decisive
On September 15, 2026, the Supreme Court directed Akanksha Devi to undergo an examination at King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow.
The Court also instructed the university’s Director to constitute a specialised medical board comprising ophthalmology experts to examine her eyesight, particularly the alleged squint.
The medical certificate issued by KGMU subsequently confirmed that her vision was proper and normal.
Taking note of the independent medical findings, a bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Vipul M Pancholi set aside the challenged order and allowed her appeal.
The Court held that the candidate was entitled to appointment, subject to fulfilling the remaining eligibility requirements.
Appointment Ordered, But Seniority Restricted
While directing the authorities to issue the appointment order or call letter, the Supreme Court made it clear that Akanksha Devi would not be entitled to claim seniority over candidates who had already been appointed.
The bench observed:
“We are of the considered view that in the peculiar facts of the instant case and particularly in the teeth of the medical board of King George’s Medical University, Department of Ophthalmology, Lucknow certifying her vision as proper/normal, we set aside the impugned order, allow this appeal and direct the respondents to issue order of appointment/call letter if she is otherwise entitled to and we make it explicitly clear that the Appellant shall not claim seniority over the candidates who have already been appointed till date.”
With this direction, the Supreme Court allowed the appeal, clearing the way for Akanksha Devi’s appointment as a Constable in the Uttar Pradesh Civil Police, subject to the stated conditions.