Delhi High Court Rules on Active Duty Injury and Promotion

The Delhi High Court has ruled that a member of a force does not cease to be on 'active duty' while not on field duty, enabling an injured officer to be eligible for promotion. The court's verdict was in favor of an assistant commandant who was denied promotion due to medical conditions resulting from a training injury.

The Delhi High Court has ruled that a force member remains on 'active duty' even when not on field duty, thereby qualifying an injury suffered during assigned tasks at a 'peace station' as an injury on 'active duty'.

This decision came in response to a petition by an assistant commandant of Sashastra Seema Bal, who was denied 2023 promotion due to not meeting the medical criteria after a training injury in 2019. The petitioner argued he was entitled to medical exemption under a 2008 standing order, which the authorities contended applied only to field activities or explosive-related accidents.

The court, granting relief to the officer, declared that 'active duty' should not have a restrictive meaning and set aside orders deeming him ineligible, directing authorities to consider his promotion with due relaxation.

(With inputs from agencies.)