Doctors & Officers Under the Scanner as 60 Unfit Candidates Declared Fit to Join CAPF

The Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered a Court of Inquiry, considering the seriousness of the matter, to fix responsibility. (Getty)

Several doctors and officers in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) are under the scanner after 60 unfit candidates were declared fit to make them eligible for recruitment in the forces.

A detailed investigation has been carried out into the alleged racket and a report has been drafted with the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The cases relate to constable exams held in 2018. The ministry has also ordered a Court of Inquiry, considering the seriousness of the matter, to fix the responsibility.

Of 60 unfit candidates, 17 candidates — seven allotted to CRPF and 10 to other CAPFs — were medically examined by the Medical Officers/Board of CRPF at CRPF Recruitment Centres where 16 medical officers are involved.

Talking about the report, a senior government official said in these cases, candidates have physical issues which were neglected by the doctors who cleared them as fit.

“The purpose of medical standards is to ensure that medically fit candidates are accepted into the CAPFs. In these cases, candidates having Scoliosis of thoracic spine, Syndactyly of middle and ring finger of both hands and other clearly visible medical unfitness were cleared during medical examination. Later, an investigation was initiated. A communication has been sent to forces regarding such candidates along with their dossiers. However, no responsibility of officers who are involved has been fixed so far,” the senior official told News18.

During medical examination, refusal to undergo the test at any stage or absenting/deserting oneself from the same renders the candidate unfit.

“Any false declaration in this aspect, discovered later at any stage of service, makes the candidate liable for disciplinary action, including termination from service. In this case, the ministry has asked to fix the responsibility of officers concerned who are involved in corruption in recruitment,” the official added.

After the revelation, many candidates declared unfit by the medical board have moved court, claiming to be fit, hinting at large-scale corruption in the process. It is expected that action will soon be initiated against such officers.

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