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In the case pertaining to declaration of three Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) candidates as medically unfit for having a religious tattoo on their right arm, the Allahabad High Court on Monday observed that for selection on a ministerial post in SSB, a tattoo, after removal, would not be an obstacle. 

The bench of Justice Siddhartha Verma stated, "if the petitioners' tattoos are removed then that particular disability may not be considered as an obstacle for selection on the ministerial posts."

Accordingly, in the context of the instant case, Court directed the Central Government to consider the petitioner candidates' candidature upon removal of their tattoos. Court also directed that "the review medical board shall complete this exercise within a period of two months".

Two of three petitioners were also alleged to have other diseases for which they had submitted that these were not permanent. However, the Additional Solicitor General of Indi, while opposing their claim, had argued that candidates with Myopia and extensive tenia Versicolor would be considered for employment only if those diseases were no longer there.

In this regard, Court held that "if the petitioner nos.2 and 3 (the two candidates) had any disability which according to the respondents were permanent in nature, then they may not be considered."

The order has been passed on the petition filed by the three SSB candidates through Advocate Binod Kumar Mishra. They had alleged that they were ousted from the recruitment process only for having small religious tattoos on their 'right' forearms.

As per the guidelines issued by the Indian Army pertaining to "tattoo policy for candidates appearing for SSB interview with permanent body tattoo(s)", non-offensive, small tattoos are allowed on the forearms of 'both' the hands, however, as per medical guidelines issued by Additional Director General, Medical (SSB), such a tattoo is only allowed on the left forearm. 

Case Title: Avneesh Kumar and 2 others vs Union of India and 4 others