Authority: Calcutta High Court
Order Date: 17 July 2026
Case Overview
- Parties: Director General, Central Reserve Police Force and others (appellants) vs. Rick Biswas and others (respondents); Union of India also appears as appellant in the main matter.
- The appeal concerned the height eligibility criteria for recruitment of constables (General Duty) in the CRPF.
- The appellants filed a condonation application (CAN 1 of 2026) claiming a 50‑day delay in preferring the appeal (erroneously stated as 51 days).
- The respondents raised no objection to the condonation.
- The court noted a Supreme Court decision in Union of India & others Vs. Atul Kumar Verma & others (Civil Appeal Nos. 4423‑4426/2026, SLP (C) Nos. 13390‑13393/2026, Diary No. 68753/2025) which settled the height‑measurement controversy.
- The Apex Court held that if a candidate’s measured height is 169.5 cm or above, the figure is rounded up to the next centimetre; such a candidate cannot be disqualified on the ground of insufficient height.
- The appellant’s candidate was not found to be below 169.5 cm, rendering the present appeal infructuous.
- The Union of India is reportedly seeking a review of the Apex Court order dated 13 April 2026, but the High Court refrained from commenting on that submission.
Final Outcome
- The 50‑day delay in filing the appeal was condoned; the application for condonation (CAN 1 of 2026) was allowed.
- The main appeal was disposed of as infructuous in view of the Supreme Court’s decision.
- Any pending applications, if any, were also disposed of.
- The court directed that an urgent photostat certified copy of the order be provided to the parties upon completion of necessary formalities.
Topics: Recruitment Policy, Height Eligibility, Legal Disposition