‘Take Decision Before March 31’: Supreme Court To Centre On Relief For Injured Defence Cadets

The bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing a suo motu case dealing with the hardships faced by cadets who are forced to leave training academies after sustaining serious injuries or disabilities.

During the hearing, the Court noted that despite earlier directions, the concerned ministries had not yet taken a final decision on recommendations made by the Chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force to improve the conditions of such cadets.

Appearing for the Union government, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati informed the Court that the decision was still pending as the recommendations had not yet received approval from the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Finance.

Justice Nagarathna expressed dissatisfaction over the continued delay. “We will have to summon the Secretaries here now,” she remarked.

Bhati requested that the Bench first pass a direction requiring the ministries to take a decision within a stipulated time, failing which the Secretaries could be asked to appear before the Court. “I have tried my best, my Lords,” Bhati submitted.

Justice Nagarathna pointed out that the issue involved financial allocations which ideally should have been factored into the budgetary process. “The monetary allocation is required. That should have been part of the budget. The Finance Act has not yet been passed, so there is time,” the judge observed.

She further directed the government’s counsel to advise the authorities concerned to take a decision before the end of the month. “Please advise them that before the 31st they will have to take the decision,” the Bench said.

Bhati responded that certain observations from the Court would help in expediting the process.

Justice Nagarathna suggested that the two ministries should hold a joint meeting to resolve the issue. “The Defence Ministry will apply its mind, but approval has to be there from the Finance Ministry,” she said.

In its order, the Court recorded the submission of the ASG that the three service chiefs had already made positive recommendations aimed at improving the condition of cadets who were boarded out due to injuries or disabilities sustained during training.

However, the matter remained inconclusive because the recommendations had not yet been approved by the Defence Ministry and the Finance Ministry.

The Bench also noted that on January 20 it had granted six weeks’ time to the Union government to consider the issue.

“However, there has been no progress in the matter. We fail to understand why, despite this Court taking up the issue suo motu, there has been no response from the Defence Ministry as well as the Finance Ministry,” the Court observed.

The Bench further pointed out that the present time was particularly appropriate for addressing the matter, given that the Finance Act, 2026 was still under consideration. According to the Court, this provided an opportunity to account for the expenditure required to provide financial assistance to the affected cadets.

Taking note of the circumstances, the Court adjourned the matter by two weeks to allow the Defence Ministry and the Finance Ministry to consider the recommendations made by the three service chiefs and take a decision on extending monetary benefits to the affected cadets.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on March 24 at 2 PM.

The Court also directed that a copy of its order be furnished to the Defence Secretary and the Finance Secretary to ensure timely action on the issue. The Bench clarified that if there was no progress by the next date of hearing, it would consider directing the personal appearance of the Defence Secretary and the Finance Secretary before the Court.

On September 5, 2025 the Court had appointed retired Justice and Senior Advocate Rekha Palli as the amicus curiae in the suo motu case concerning cadets who were medically discharged during training at elite academies like the NDA and IMA.