Supreme Court of India suo motu order

In re: Cadets Disabled in Military Training Struggle, Aug. 18, 2025

In a section of the Print Media, i.e., the Indian Express (Delhi Edition) dated 11.08.2025, we read an article titled “Mounting Medical Bills, nowhere to go: Braveheart Cadets disabled in military training struggle in shadows” and a connected news item alongside. My Learned Brother Hon’ble Mr. Justice K.V. Viswanathan and myself discussed the matter when I broached the subject with him. He was gracious enough to concur with me that we should place this matter before Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India to consider it as a Suo motu Writ Petition and His Lordship has treated it as a Suo motu Writ Petition. His Lordship has placed the matter before this Bench by directing registration of the same as a Suo motu Writ Petition and for passing orders thereon.

In the circumstances, we issue notice on this Suo Motu Writ Petition to the Union of India:

a) Ministry of Defence through its Secretary, South Block, New Delhi – 110011;

(b) Ministry of Finance through its Secretary, Department of Expenditure, North Block, New Delhi110011.

c) Ministry of Social Justice (Department of Employment of persons with disabilities) represented by its Principal Secretary.

d) Chief of Defence Staff, Ministry of Defence, South Block, New Delhi;

e) Chief of Army Staff, IHQ of MoD (Army), South Block, Central Secretariat, New Delhi;

f) Chief of Naval Staff, IHQ of MoD(Navy), South Block, New Delhi; and

g) Chief of Air Staff, Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhawan), New Delhi-. . . .

It was submitted at the bar that there are certain petitions pending before the Delhi High Court as well as

other High Courts seeking certain reliefs. During the course of proceeding, this Court sought to know as to, whether, there could be an increase in the medical expenditure payable per month to the Medically

Boarded out cadets; whether there could be an insurance coverage for the trainee cadets to meet any such

contingencies of death or disablement; whether there could be a re-assessmeent of the injured cadets after their treatment has reached a particular stage and thereafter any suitable training could be given to them so that they could be rehabilitated; further, the rights of such Cadets under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, could also be examined by the respondents. In this regard, Ms.Aishwarya Bhati, learned Additional Solicitor General submitted that she would discuss the matter with the concerned respondents and respond.