Overview

• The Supreme Court initiated a suo motu case on August 12 after a media investigation revealed that around 500 cadets discharged for training injuries since 1985 receive only limited ex-gratia support
• It issued notices to the Departments of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Social Justice, Defence Finance, the Chief of Defence Staff and the heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force to file detailed responses
• During Monday’s hearing, the court was informed that no group insurance covers trainee cadets and that the existing ex-gratia payment of up to ₹40,000 per month inadequately addresses lifelong medical expenses
• Justices Nagarathna and Mahadevan directed the Centre to examine options including group insurance, enhanced ex-gratia compensation, post-treatment reassessment and rehabilitation or non-field reinstatement schemes
• The bench scheduled the next hearing for September 4 to review the government’s proposed reforms and bridge the welfare gap for cadets disabled in training