Delhi High Court Seeks Justification for Tattoo Ban on Right Forearm in Forces

The Delhi High Court questioned recruitment rules that disqualify armed forces candidates for having tattoos on the right forearm but allow them on the left.

A Division Bench of Justices C Hari Shankar and Om Prakash Shukla observed that the Ministry of Home Affairs permits tattoos on “traditional sites” like the inner forearm, but only on the left arm, termed the “non-saluting limb.”

The Court noted the petitioner, disqualified from CRPF recruitment for a tattoo on his right forearm, even offered to remove it surgically. Finding the rule prima facie questionable, the Bench issued notice to the authorities and sought their justification.

[Vipin Kumar v Union of India and Others]