Benefits to disabled officer cadets: Supreme Court rebukes Centre for non-compliance of order

The Supreme Court asked the Centre to explore a scheme for the rehabilitation of the disabled candidates into desk jobs or any other work related to defence services, after their treatment was over. File. | Photo Credit: The Hindu

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) rebuked the Centre for its failure to comply with its directions to reconsider welfare measures for military officer cadets who became unfit due to any disability suffered during their training period.

A Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna, R. Mahadevan and D.K. Upadhyaya was hearing a suo motu case related to the difficulties faced by cadets who were boarded out due to injury or disablement during training.

The top court noted that there had been no genuine reconsideration of the recommendations of the 2015 Sabharwal Committee report despite clear directions issued on August 4, 2026.

The 2015 Sabharwal Committee was constituted for review of service and pension matters including potential disputes, minimising litigation and strengthening institutional mechanisms related to redressal of grievances.

“What is this attitude you are showing to the court? You say we disposed of it in 2022, and there ends the matter. What is the attitude on the part of the department?” Justice Nagarathna observed orally.