SC Seeks Rehab Plan for Cadets Injured During Military Training

Supreme Court Seeks Rehabilitation Plan for Cadets Injured in Military Training: Centre Asked to Act on Amicus Suggestions

Court highlights discrimination between recruits and officer cadets discharged due to training injuries

Union Government directed to frame rehabilitation scheme covering health, financial, and social support

By Our Legal Reporter

New Delhi: October 08, 2025:

The Supreme Court of India has directed the Union Government to examine and act upon suggestions made by Amicus Curiae Senior Advocate Rekha Palli for the rehabilitation of cadets who suffer permanent injuries during military training and are discharged before commissioning.

A bench of Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan observed that such cadets, often referred to as “out-boarded cadets”, are left without recognition, benefits, or adequate medical support despite having undergone rigorous training at premier institutions like the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the Indian Military Academy (IMA).

The court noted that these cadets, who would have otherwise become commissioned officers, are currently treated as outsiders once they are medically discharged, creating a serious gap in the system of recognition and rehabilitation.

The Trigger: A Media Report and Suo Motu Case

The case originated after a media report in the Indian Express (August 2025) highlighted the plight of cadets disabled during training. The report described how many such cadets, some injured as far back as the 1980s, continue to struggle with mounting medical bills, lack of recognition, and absence of institutional support.

Taking cognisance, the Supreme Court initiated a suo motu writ petition in August 2025. The court emphasized that the matter should be treated as non-adversarial, urging the Union Government and armed forces to work together to find solutions.

Discrimination Between Recruits and Cadets

One of the strongest observations made by the bench was the discrimination between soldier recruits and officer cadets.

Recruits injured during training are entitled to monetary benefits, medical facilities, and recognition as ex-servicemen (ESM).
Officer cadets, however, if injured before commissioning, are denied ESM status and receive only limited ex gratia payments, often insufficient to cover even basic medical expenses.

Justice Nagarathna remarked: “The recruits who do not complete training are getting the benefits. But the officers-to-be, who are not able to complete training owing to injuries sustained during it, are left high and dry. To that extent, there is a lot of heartburn.”

Amicus Curiae’s Suggestions

Senior Advocate Rekha Palli, appointed as amicus curiae, submitted a set of recommendations to address the issue. These include:

Formal recognition of out-boarded cadets as a distinct category within the armed forces framework.
Monetary compensation equivalent to what they would have received as commissioned officers.
Medical coverage under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).
Educational and employment support to help them rebuild their lives.
Psychological counselling and rehabilitation programmes to address trauma.

The court directed the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati to place these suggestions before the Service Headquarters and relevant ministries, including Defence and Finance, for urgent consideration.

Government’s Response

The ASG assured the court that the matter would be referred to experts at the service headquarters, and their recommendations would be forwarded to the ministries for joint review. The government has been given time until November 18, 2025, to submit a concrete proposal.

The bench described the ASG’s assurance as “reasonable and positive”, but stressed that the issue must be resolved quickly, given that the number of such cadets is “absolutely minuscule” and therefore not a heavy financial burden on the state.

The Human Cost

Reports suggest that since 1985, hundreds of cadets have been medically discharged due to injuries sustained during training. At the NDA alone, around 20 cadets were discharged between 2021 and mid-2025.

These cadets face lifelong challenges:

Medical expenses often exceeding ₹50,000 per month.
No pension or long-term financial support.
Exclusion from ESM benefits, leaving them without access to military hospitals.
Social stigma, as many are seen as “dropouts” despite their sacrifices.

One cadet quoted in media reports said: “We entered the academy with dreams of serving the nation. An accident during training ended that dream, and now we are left with nothing—not even recognition.”

Court’s Observations

The Supreme Court emphasized that the first step is recognition. Without acknowledging the status of these cadets, no meaningful rehabilitation scheme can be framed.

The bench stated: “There is a need for the system to first of all recognise and thereafter to come up with a scheme for the benefit of such cadets both monetary as well as otherwise, including health facilities.”

The judges also noted that the numbers are very small, making it feasible for the government to extend comprehensive benefits without significant financial strain.

Wider Implications

The case has sparked a broader debate about how India treats its military trainees and veterans. Experts argue that the neglect of injured cadets undermines the morale of those currently in training and sends a discouraging message to future aspirants.

Military analysts point out that training accidents are inevitable in a profession that demands extreme physical and mental endurance. However, the state has a moral obligation to care for those who suffer in the line of duty—even before formal commissioning.

Looking Ahead

The Supreme Court has made it clear that it expects the government to act swiftly. By November, the Union Government must present a rehabilitation framework that could include:

Financial compensation packages.
Inclusion in ESM schemes.
Access to military hospitals and rehabilitation centres.
Employment opportunities in civilian or defence-related roles.

If implemented, this would mark the first structured recognition of out-boarded cadets in India’s military history.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s intervention has given hope to a small but significant group of young men who entered India’s most prestigious military academies with dreams of serving the nation, only to have their futures shattered by training injuries.

By directing the Centre to examine amicus suggestions and frame a rehabilitation scheme, the court has signalled that justice, dignity, and recognition must extend to those who sacrificed their health in the service of the country—even before they could wear the uniform of a commissioned officer.

The coming weeks will determine whether the government translates this judicial push into tangible relief for cadets who have long lived in the shadows of neglect.