Rehab for Disabled Officer Cadets: Supreme Court Gives Union Govt Six Weeks to Decide

The Bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan adjourned the suo motu proceedings to January 28, expressing the expectation that by then sufficient progress would be made in approving the recommendations submitted by the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati informed the Court that consultations with the three service headquarters had concluded and that all three had given positive recommendations. She submitted that the formulation of a rehabilitation scheme would now require approval from the Ministry of Defence, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, after which a final proposal would be placed before the Court.

Seeking additional time, the ASG requested six weeks to complete the exercise, assuring the Bench that efforts would be made to expedite the process.

Amicus Curiae Senior Advocate Rekha Palli, however, flagged concerns over prolonged delays, pointing out that similar recommendations had been made by various sub-committees over the past decade without concrete outcomes. She suggested that the Court could consider directing the Ministry to place its decision in a sealed cover, given the long pendency of the issue.

Recording the ASG’s submissions that the recommendations of the three services were favourable and that consideration by the two Ministries was underway, the Court adjourned the matter to January 28, reiterating its expectation of tangible progress by the next date of hearing.

Previously, in October, the Court had asked the Centre to come up with a scheme for out-boarded military cadets so that they can be rehabilitated. "It is expected that a scheme of facilities and amenities would be provided to these out-boarded officer cadets so that they could be rehabilitated, both medically as well as otherwise, in their future life," the Court said.

The court had also recorded appreciation for the Union governments' quick response for the issues faced by cadets after Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed the bench that a status report had been filed.

In its order, the bench had thus recorded, "The ECHS scheme would be applicable to all invalidated out boarded cadets due to attributability or aggravation by military training. We at the outset appreciate the positive response from the respondents. We have perused the amounts that are provided as ex-gratia per month. Endeavors should be made to enhance the amounts bearing in mind the inflation and price rise."

On August 18, the Supreme Court had issued notices to the Union of India, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Social Justice in a suo motu case registered over the plight of officer cadets who were medically discharged during training at elite academies like the NDA and IMA after suffering disabilities that occurred before commissioning, excluding them from ex-servicemen status and benefits under the Ex Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme despite incurring lifelong injuries.

According to media reports, since 1985, approximately 500 cadets have been discharged on medical grounds and are struggling with escalating medical bills even as the only support they receive is a monthly ex gratia payment of up to ₹40,000, an amount that falls far short of basic needs while average medical expenses alone often exceed ₹50,000 per month. At the NDA alone, around 20 cadets were discharged on medical grounds between 2021 and July 2025.

Case Title: In Re: Cadets Disabled in Military Training Struggle

Hearing date: December 16, 2025

Bench: Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan