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Can tattoo removal after a medical exam make you fit for the armed forces? The Calcutta High Court says no, dismissing a CAPF candidate’s plea and stressing fitness is assessed based on the condition on the day of the detailed medical exam.
Calcutta High Court rejects armed forces candidate’s plea
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court has clarified that removing tattoos after being declared medically unfit in a detailed medical examination and before a review medical examination is “not permissible”. The court dismissed the plea of an aspiring constable seeking to challenge his disqualification in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
The petitioner, an aspiring constable, was declared medically unfit during the detailed medical examination (DME) conducted on December 3, 2025, due to tattoos on his right forearm and right flat foot. Following this, he underwent tattoo removal on December 6, 2025, before appearing for a review medical examination. He argued that the removal of tattoos should allow him to be declared medically fit.
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Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, hearing the case, noted that the health assessment, including the presence of tattoos, must be based on the condition as it existed on the date of the detailed medical examination.
The court emphasized that while candidates have the right to seek a review medical examination if they believe there was an error or anomaly in the initial assessment, taking corrective measures after the DME but before the review is not allowed.
“The conduct of the petitioner in removing tattoos after the DME and prior to the review cannot be countenanced,” the court observed in its January 2 order. The judgment underlined that medical fitness is evaluated based on the candidate’s status at the time of the original medical assessment.
The petitioner’s counsel, advocate Debasish Kundu, argued that since the tattoos were removed, his client should now be considered fit during the review medical examination. The state, represented by advocate Ram Chandra Agarwal, countered that the tattoos were present on December 3, the date of the DME, and their subsequent removal did not alter the original findings.
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The court also referred to a similar ruling by the Delhi High Court, which held that candidates entering the selection process of any force, including Delhi Police, must remove objectionable tattoos before the medical examination. If tattoos remain impermissible, candidates risk disqualification.
This ruling reinforces that medical fitness evaluations in the armed forces are time-specific and cannot be retroactively altered. Candidates are expected to comply with tattoo rules prior to appearing for the detailed medical examination, ensuring transparency and uniformity in the selection process.
