Supreme Court asks Centre if boarded-out cadets qualify as ex-military personnel for quota benefits

The Supreme Court asked the Union government on Thursday (April 2, 2026) to explore the possibility of considering medically board-out Armed Forces cadets as ‘ex-military personnel’ for the purpose of reservation in government and semi-government jobs.

A Bench headed by Justice B.V. Nagarathna pointed out that a majority of the boarded-out candidates were below the age of 30, and would need employment.

Amicus curiae, senior advocate Rekha Palli, said they had set out to serve the nation, but their aspirations were cut short by injuries. Ms. Palli urged the government to not leave them to fend for themselves.

Additional Solicitor General N. Venkataraman said on Centre’s behalf that it would give a comprehensive response to the issue.

In an earlier hearing, the government had informed the Supreme Court that Armed Forces cadets medically boarded out due to disabilities attributable to or aggravated by military training had been included in the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS). Inclusion in the ECHS would ensure that these invalid former cadets receive free medical care.

The court had taken suo motu cognisance of a media report highlighting the plight of Armed Forces cadets, who were medically boarded out after training accidents.

“Risks involved in military training are very high. If nothing is done when cadets suffer accidents, people who look up to the Armed Forces and want to join would be disheartened. These are, after all, accidents and not caused by the cadets’ negligence,” Justice Nagarathna had observed during a hearing last year.