SC Tells Govt: Don’t Abandon Injured Defence Cadets, Seeks Insurance, Jobs And Rehabilitation Plan By 4 September

The Supreme Court on Monday said that defence cadets who suffer injuries during training and are subsequently not inducted into the armed forces should not be left without support, as such treatment could discourage young people from joining the services.

A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan, taking suo motu cognisance of the issue, issued notices to the Union government and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, asking for their response on measures to rehabilitate such cadets. The court directed the government to come up with a scheme by September 4.

Calling it a matter of “social justice,” the bench suggested that all cadets be covered under an insurance scheme to provide financial assistance in cases of injury or death during training. It also recommended that injured cadets could be considered for desk roles in the defence forces or trained for alternative employment.

“Helping such injured cadets is an act of social justice,” the court said, while also suggesting enhanced monthly medical expenditure, reassessment after treatment, and exploring rights available under the Disabilities Act.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, said she would consult relevant authorities and present a response at the next hearing. However, she cautioned that the armed forces traditionally do not have non-combatant desk roles, making it difficult to absorb injured cadets.

Lawyers representing affected cadets told the bench that currently no insurance scheme exists for trainees, though a proposal to extend coverage under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme is pending.

The court’s intervention is seen as a significant step toward addressing the plight of injured cadets, who often face financial and career uncertainty after being declared unfit for service.