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SC allows Centre 6 more weeks to respond to recommendations on rehabilitating officer cadets who sustained disabilities

The Supreme Court had taken up the matter suo motu based on reports published in The Indian Express about the plight of officer cadets discharged from top military institutes due to disabilities sustained during training.

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Dec 16, 2025 06:57 PM IST

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The Supreme Court had taken up the matter suo motu based on reports published in The Indian Express

The Supreme Court Tuesday allowed the Centre’s request for more time to respond to the recommendations of the amicus curiae in the matter of officer cadets of the armed forces who sustained disabilities during training, including on the aspect of rehabilitating them.

A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan granted the government more time after Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati said the “recommendations of the three services are positive” and sought six more weeks to complete the exercise.

The bench, accordingly, adjourned the matter to January 28, 2026.

“Learned ASG also submitted that the recommendations of the three services are positive and therefore the consideration by the two Ministries is required. Hence, we adjourn this matter to 28 January. It is expected that by then sufficient progress will be made with regard to the consideration and approval of the recommendations made by the respondents,” the bench said in its order.

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Bhati said the consultations with the Army, Navy and Air Force had been completed and they had given positive recommendations. She added that a scheme will now have to be formulated with the approval of the Defence Ministry, which will take a final view of things in consultation with the Finance Ministry and submit the proposal to the court.

Flagging concerns over the process getting delayed, Senior Advocate Rekha Palli, who is the amicus curiae in the case, pointed out that similar recommendations were made by sub-committees even in the past.

The Supreme Court had taken up the matter suo motu based on reports published in The Indian Express about the plight of officer cadets discharged from top military institutes due to disabilities sustained during training and sought the response of the armed forces and the centre.

Subsequently, the court had appointed Palli to assist it in the matter. The amicus curiae came up with a series of recommendations, including coverage under Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) for all “invalidated” past and future officer cadets and eligible dependents; hike in ex-gratia benefits equivalent to rank of Lieutenant/ Flying Officer; implementation of previous recommendations for disability pension; one-time compensation for immediate relief; periodic medical reassessment for resettlement; reservation in higher education; and better insurance.

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On October 7, the Supreme Court had directed that these suggestions be placed before the Army, Navy and Air Force services headquarters for them to frame a scheme for the rehabilitation of the cadets.