New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday recorded the Centre’s assurance that cadets discharged from military academies due to training-related disabilities will now receive medical facilities under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS). The government has also waived the one-time subscription fee.
Centre Extends Medical Coverage
A bench of Justices B. V. Nagarathna and Prashant Kumar Mishra was informed by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati that from August 29, all invalidated cadets have been brought under the ECHS. The court directed the Centre to complete their registration by September 15 and appointed senior advocate Rekha Palli as amicus curiae in the matter.
The bench recorded that the Ministry of Defence had extended the scheme without charging the usual one-time subscription fee of ₹1.2 lakh. It appreciated the government’s response in addressing the concerns of cadets invalidated during training.
Court Calls for Better Compensation
The judges also discussed monetary support. They observed that the ex gratia amount fixed in 2017 must be revised to account for inflation and rising medical costs. The court also flagged the insufficiency of the current insurance scheme and urged the Centre to enhance the cover provided to disabled cadets.
Highlighting the need for rehabilitation, the bench asked the government to prepare a medical reassessment scheme and explore employment options for such cadets. It noted that since these cadets had cleared rigorous entrance exams, they were fit for desk-based roles even if not granted ex-servicemen status.
Insurance and Ex Gratia Framework
ASG Bhati informed the court that in case of a cadet’s death, families receive a one-time ex gratia of ₹12.5 lakh along with ₹9,000 per month. She explained that since 1992, the Army, Navy, and Air Force have maintained their own group insurance schemes, with premiums contributed by service personnel, covering cadets as well.
The bench, however, pressed for improvements in the existing system to ensure fairer financial protection for the injured cadets and their families.
Background to the Case
The matter was taken up suo motu after a media report on August 12 revealed the hardships faced by such cadets. The report stated that since 1985, nearly 500 officer cadets were medically discharged from premier institutes like the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Indian Military Academy (IMA).
At the NDA alone, around 20 cadets were discharged between 2021 and July 2025 due to training-related disabilities. Many were denied ECHS benefits since they were not classified as ex-servicemen, leaving them dependent on limited ex gratia support ranging up to ₹40,000 per month an amount inadequate for sustained medical treatment.
The Supreme Court has now scheduled the next hearing for October 7.
