SC suggests resettlement scheme for cadets disabled during training

On 4 September, a Bench of Justices B.V.Nagarathna and P.K.Mishra resumed the hearing of the case, In re: Cadets Disabled in Military Training Struggle suo moto. The Court had taken up the case after a reported story in the Indian Express brought to the limelight the plight of cadets disabled during training in August. The Record of Proceedings (RoP) of the case was uploaded on 11 September. 

The Bench has recommended enhancing the insurance cover for the outboarded cadets and expanding it, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The Bench mentioned that the insurance cover could be in the form of a Group Insurance Scheme through nationalised insurance companies, based on annual admissions/entries for the training of the cadets at the NDA, IMA, OTA and other such per-commissioning training institutes. 

On 18 August, a different Bench of Justices Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan had issued notices to the Chiefs of Defence, Army, Naval and Air Staff, the Ministry of Defence and departments in the Ministries of Finance and Social Justice. 

Union’s positive response 

On 4 September, the Bench extended its appreciation to the Union’s positive response to address the issue. Notably, the Union has agreed to extend medical facilities for treatment in the form of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) to all invalidated and out-boarded cadets, without any subscription fee. 

The ECHS scheme has now been made applicable to the out-boarded cadets with effect from 29 August 2025. The Bench directed streamlining registration for the scheme, so that such cadets are able to register by 15 September. 

Further, the Bench noted from the Union’s status report that the amount provided as ex gratia per month to such cadets was revised way back on 4 September 2017. Therefore, the Bench recommended the enhancement of the ex gratia amount, bearing in mind the current inflation. 

Case for reassessment

A cadet is given adequate time to recover from injury suffered during training and it is only when they cannot achieve the desired medical standards that they are boarded out from the military training. 

On 4 September, the Bench requested the respondents to consider the submission that there could be a re-assessment for resettlement at appropriate stages of the treatment and its completion. In this regard, the Bench observed that the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2006, may also be considered.

The Bench appointed Senior Advocate, Rekha Palli, as the amicus to assist the Court in the case. The case will be heard next on 7 October 2025 at 2 pm.