Supreme Court raps Centre over failure to reconsider benefits for disabled military cadets

The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed displeasure with the Central government for failing to comply with its earlier direction to reconsider measures to support officer cadets discharged from military training due to disabilities [In Re: Cadets Disabled in Military Training Struggle].A Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna, R Mahadevan and DK Upadhyaya found that the Centre had not reconsidered the recommendations made in the Sabharwal Committee report despite being directed to do so on August 4."It is clear as daylight that there has been no reconsideration of the report by the respondent departments. We say that there has been non-compliance with our directions issued on 4th August, 2026.Before we take any other action which may be adverse to the respondent departments, we give one more opportunity to them (Centre) to comply with our aforesaid direction and to place on record the minutes of the meeting held pursuant to our direction," the order stated..The Court was hearing a suo motu case initiated to examine and alleviate the difficulties faced by military cadets who suffer disabilities during training and are consequently out-boarded.On August 4, the Court had directed the Centre to reconsider the Sabharwal Committee’s recommendations concerning support for such cadets. The Bench had also considered the position of cadets whose disabilities were assessed at less than 40 percent and who would consequently not be entitled to reservation under Section 34 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act). It had then asked the Centre to formulate a suitable scheme for them..During the hearing today, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) N Venkataraman, appearing for the Centre, told the Court that a skill training scheme had been proposed for cadets with less than 40 percent disability.“At least a diploma course you should provide. Education expenses must be provided,” Justice Nagarathna remarked.ASG Venkataraman, however, said the government could create opportunities for qualified cadets but could not assume responsibility for providing them employment..At this point, Senior Advocate Rekha Palli, appearing as amicus curiae, pointed out that the Court had specifically directed the respondent departments to reconsider the Sabharwal Committee’s recommendations.The Centre’s affidavit, however, merely referred to a decision taken in 2022 and did not disclose any fresh reconsideration following the Court’s August 4 order, she submitted.Palli also highlighted that recruits discharged due to disabilities received certain monetary and other benefits that were not extended to officer cadets, even though the latter were fewer in number."I had pointed out in the last hearing as well the amount given to recruit as ex gratia is ₹18,000. That's not the case with cadets. They (Centre) say in their affidavit it was decided in 2022.. It's our policy. I really don't want to be saying how much they spend everywhere,” she submitted.Justice Nagarathna then questioned why such benefits were available to ordinary recruits but not to officer cadets..Some semblance of reconsideration has to be there. No meeting has been held. What is this attitude of the department?Supreme Court.ASG Aishwarya Bhati, also appearing for the Centre, said the issue involved a policy decision.Justice Nagarathna proceeded to ask whether any meeting had been held pursuant to the Court’s August 4 direction.Bhati responded that an exercise had been undertaken only in relation to the skill-training plan and not for granting ex-servicemen status.The response drew a sharp reaction from Justice Nagarathna.“See, look at the scant attitude you are showing to this Court. All right, we disposed it of in 2022, therefore the matter ends? What is this attitude on the part of the department? Some semblance of reconsideration has to be there. No meeting has been held. What is this attitude of the department?” she remarked..The Court gave the Centre one more opportunity to comply with its direction and ordered it to place on record the minutes of the meeting held pursuant to the reconsideration exercise.It also asked the amicus curiae to identify the benefits available to out-boarded recruits so that the authorities could consider extending similar assistance to officer cadets.The matter will be heard next on November 30..[ Read Live Coverage]