Centre Faces Supreme Court Questions Over Welfare Benefits For Disabled Military Cadets

The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the Centre over its alleged failure to comply with directions concerning welfare benefits for military officer cadets who become medically unfit because of disabilities or injuries suffered during training. A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna, R Mahadevan and DK Upadhyaya said the Centre's latest affidavit did not demonstrate genuine reconsideration of recommendations made by the 2015 Sabharwal Committee.

The court had directed the Centre on August 4, 2026, to reconsider the committee's recommendations relating to benefits for affected officer cadets. However, the bench noted that the latest affidavit mainly referred to meetings conducted in 2022 and previous decisions under which disability pension and ex-servicemen status were denied to officer cadets who were boarded out because of injuries or disabilities.

Questioning the approach adopted by the authorities, Justice Nagarathna asked why the department appeared to treat earlier decisions as ending the matter. The bench observed that the affidavit contained no indication that the Sabharwal Committee's recommendations had been reconsidered in accordance with the court's August 4 direction. The court said the Centre had one more opportunity to comply with its order.

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The bench directed the Centre to place on record the minutes of the meeting held pursuant to the August 4 order and listed the matter for further hearing on November 30. During the proceedings, the judges also noted that ordinary recruits who are boarded out can receive disability pension and other benefits, while officer cadets in comparable circumstances have not been extended the same benefits.

Senior advocate Rekha Palli, who has been appointed as amicus curiae in the case, told the court that around 400 officer cadets could have been affected over the years. Justice Nagarathna also questioned the basis for treating officer cadets differently from ordinary recruits and sought information on the financial implications of extending similar benefits to them.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati submitted that the issue involved a policy decision and would be considered by the Eighth Central Pay Commission. The case concerns cadets who are medically discharged from military training institutions after suffering disabilities or injuries during training. The Supreme Court had earlier asked the Centre to consider insurance coverage for such injuries and explore rehabilitation options, including desk-based or other defence-related roles after treatment. The court had taken suo motu cognisance of a media report in August 2025 highlighting the difficulties faced by affected officer cadets.

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