Supreme Court Addresses Officer Cadet Disability Cases Linked to Military Training

The Supreme Court has initiated suo motu proceedings concerning reports highlighting the challenges faced by officer cadets who have sustained significant disabilities during military training and were later discharged on medical grounds without adequate support.

Also Read: Wounded Before War: The Untold Struggle of Cadets Left Without Support

A bench comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan is set to review the writ petition named "Cadets disabled in military training struggle" on August 18.

According to sources, Justice Nagarathna presented the issue to Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, who subsequently assigned it to her bench for expedited hearing.

500 Cadets Medically Discharged Since 1985

Since 1985, nearly 500 cadets have been medically discharged from leading institutions such as the National Defence Academy (NDA) after incurring various disabilities during training. At the NDA alone, around 20 cadets were discharged between 2021 and July 2025.

These cadets currently receive an ex gratia of up to ₹40,000 per month, contingent on the level of disability, yet they are not classified as ex-servicemen (ESM). As a result, they are excluded from the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), which would otherwise grant them free access to treatment at military hospitals and associated facilities. Families contend that the financial aid provided falls short, with medical expenses frequently surpassing ₹50,000 monthly.

Call for Urgent Reforms

The reports further highlighted that although Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had sanctioned a proposal to augment the ex gratia, the approval process remains stalled.

In response to the situation, former Army Chief Gen M M Naravane (retd) and former Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash (retd) have called on the government to shoulder the long-term care costs, offer comprehensive health insurance, and ensure reasonable compensation alongside enhanced safety measures during training.