SC amicus, Pg1.

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court directed the Army, Navy, and Air Force to create a rehabilitation scheme for cadets medically discharged from military academies.
• Approximately 40-50 cadets are medically discharged annually from six academies, including NDA, IMA, OTA, AFA, and INA.
• The court's directive follows reports highlighting the lack of ex-servicemen status and adequate benefits for these cadets.
• The Ministry of Defence previously granted free medical facilities under ECHS to these officer cadets.

Detailed Insights:

• The court took suo motu cognizance of reports highlighting the severe disabilities, mounting medical bills, and poor benefits faced by officer cadets.
• Medically discharged cadets are not entitled to ex-servicemen (ESM) status, which would grant them free treatment at military facilities.
• Unlike soldiers, officer cadets receive only an ex gratia payment that is insufficient to cover their medical expenses, which average around Rs 50,000 per month.
• The court is pushing for a consistent and comprehensive policy to ensure all invalidated cadets receive automatic and assured ECHS coverage, including for their dependents.
• The suggestions include disability pension recommendations made in 2015 by the Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal (Retd) Committee.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Amicus Curiae: An impartial advisor to a court of law in a particular case.
• Suo Motu Cognizance: When a court takes up a case on its own without any petition from any party.
• Ex-Servicemen Status (ESM): Status granted to individuals who have served in the armed forces, entitling them to certain benefits.
• ECHS (Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme): A health scheme providing medical facilities to ex-servicemen and their dependents.