Delhi High Court rejects plea of over-weight applicant

Did not meet IAF’s fitness criteria for Airmen

The Delhi High Court has rejected the appeal of a man, seeking appointment as Airman in the Indian Air Force, challenging the Medical Board’s decision declaring him ‘unfit’ for service on three grounds — being overweight, unable to squat, and suffering from hyperbilirubinemia. The High Court took into account the response of the government that the ideal weight prescribed in the Manual of Medical Examination and Medical Boards for the height of the petitioner, Mr Amit Kumar, of 178 cm and 19 years, was 63 kgs with a margin of 6.3 kgs. “However the weight of the petitioner (Mr Kumar), as per the records produced, on the date of the examination by the Medical Board as well as by the Appeal Medical Board was way above i.e., 83 kgs and 80 kgs respectively,” the court said.