IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH AT SHIMLA CWP No.17946 of 2025 Decided on: 02.01.2026 _________________________________________________________________ Sourabh ....Petitioner Versus Union of India & Ors. …Respondents _________________________________________________________________ Coram Ms. Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua 1 Whether approved for reporting? _________________________________________________________________ For the petitioner: Mr. Vipul Mehta, Advocate vice Mr. Surender Prakash Sharma, Advocate. For the respondents: Mr. Balram Sharma, Deputy Solicitor General of India with Mr. Rajiv Sharma, Advocate. ________________________________________________________________ Jyotsna Rewal Dua, Judge Following order was passed in the matter on 19.12.2026:- “Reply is still not on record. Learned Deputy Solicitor General of India states that it has been filed today. 2. Petitioner is an aspirant for the Agniveer Intake (2025). It is not in dispute that he successfully qualified 1 Whether reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment? - 2 - the Computer Based Test and subsequent Tests (1.6 KM run, push-ups, etc.) held on 21.08.2025. Petitioner’s candidature, however, was rejected on the ground of not fulfilling the requisite chest criteria. i.e. 77 cm ( unexpanded) with minimum expansion of 5 cm. 3. Petitioner alleges that during manual measurement, he was “thumped on the chest” by the measuring staff, causing retraction due to stress, leading to potential error in the measurement; A subsequent check up at a dispensary revealed his chest criteria to be in conformity with the standard requirement. 4. Let the respondents carry out physical measurement of petitioner’s chest again on a given date and the result whereof be placed on the next date of hearing. List on 02.01.2026.” 2. Pursuant to the above directions, learned counsel for the respondents has placed on record office communication dated 27.12.2025, conveying that: - (i) In view of order dated 19.1.2025, passed in this writ petition , an independent Board of Officers carried out chest measurement of the petitioner on 24.12.2025 at Army Recruiting Office, Palampur. (ii) The Board of Officers found the chest measurement of the petitioner to be 76 Cm - 3 - without chest expansion and 80 Cm with full Chest expansion. (iii) As per the policy, the minimum eligibility criteria for physical standard required to be achieved by the candidate is 77 Cm without chest expansion and 5Cm of chest expansion i.e. 82 Cm. (iv) Petitioner does not meet the minimum physical standard for chest criteria and was found to be unfit for recruitment in India Army. 3. In view of report of the independent Board of Officers of the respondents finding the petitioner to be not meeting the required physical standard for chest criteria, the relief claimed for by him in this writ petition, cannot be granted to him. Accordingly, the present petition fails and dismissed accordingly. Pending miscellaneous application(s), if any, also to stand disposed of. Jyotsna Rewal Dua Judge January 2, 2026 R.Atal