The Division Bench of Delhi High Court has recently
held that applicants suffering with colour vision cannot be appointed as
constables in Delhi Police.
The bench headed by Justice C. Hari Shankar and Justice
Amit Sharma observed that "there can be no cavil with the finding of the
Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) that defective colour vision is a defect.
As such, the petitioners clearly suffer from a defect which renders them unfit
for appointment as constables in the Delhi Police."
The High Court further held that the standards of
medical fitness of candidates in forces, including Delhi Police, have to be
stricter and higher than those who apply for civilian posts.
The petitioners had approached the High Court with a
writ petition challenging the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal, by
which it refused to entertain an application seeking an appointment in Delhi
Police.
It was contended through the petitioners' advocate
that 'defective colour vision' is not 'colour blindness', hence they should
appointed as constables in Delhi Police.
The Delhi Police, through Central Government
Standing Counsel Ashish Dixit Advocate, opposed the writ petition and contended
that colour vision is a defect and therefore, in terms of advertisement, the
candidates should be free from defects.
Noted this, the High Court bench said, "We do not find any cause to
interfere with the judgement of the Tribunal. This writ petitions accordingly
stand dismissed in limine.