Catch-22 Situation: The Struggle of Disabled Cadets | Supreme Court’s Suo-Motu Intervention

Catch 22 Situation : The Struggle of Disabled Cadets

An injury or illness during military training is a life altering event. While most people associate military disability with veterans who have served in the military for years. But a different and often most precarious struggle exist for those who suffered debilitating injury before they are formally commissioned.

These cadets, who have dedicated years of there lives to rigorous physical and academic preparation, find themselves in a unique and difficult position. They are often stuck in a bureaucratic and legal limbo that leaves them without the institutional and financial support afforded to their veteran counterparts.

No Legal Status

A key struggle for these cadets is their lack of legal status as a “Service Member.” In some countries they are not considered veterans or active-duty personnel. This distinction can be devastating, as it often means that they are ineligible for many of the benefits that would otherwise provide a crucial safety.

Psychological Impact

The psychological impact is profound. A cadet’s career is not just a job; it is a vocation. Losing that future due to an injury can lead to several mental health issues, as they not only lose their physical capabilities but also their identity and a future they had worked so hard to achieve.

Financial and Medical Struggles

These cadets face a lack of opportunities for rehabilitation and future employment. As they are not considered ex-servicemen, they are ineligible for the schemes designed to help disabled veterans reintegrate into civilian life or to find alternative roles within the defence service.

While some may receive ex-gratia payment, it is often a fraction of what they need to cover mounting medical bills — leading to financial distress.

Social Challenges

They face the social stigma and personal disappointment of not being able to complete their training, despite the sacrifices they have made.

Lack of Rehabilitation and Alternative Employment

These cadets are left to fend for themselves with no systematic plan to help them transition into civilian life or to utilise their skills and training in different capacities.

Status in Different Countries

  • United States: ROTC cadets are eligible for compensation through the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labour. However, they are only entitled to limited benefits.

  • United Kingdom: The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) compensates cadets for injuries, illness, or death caused by service.

  • Canada: The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) provide robust medical reimbursement for training-related injuries, including ambulance and physiotherapy costs.

Supreme Court Takes Suo-Moto Notice

The issue of inadequate care for disabled cadets has recently gained global attention.

Justice B. V. Nagarthna of the Supreme Court of India took Suo-motu notice of a news report in The Indian Express titled “Mounting Medical Bills, nowhere to go: Braveheart Cadets Disabled in military training struggle in shadows” by Amrita Nayak Dutta (12th August 2025).

  • The report highlighted that around 500 officer cadets had been medically discharged since 1985 due to varying degrees of disability.

  • These individuals are not entitled to Ex-Servicemen (ESM) status, which would have granted free medical care under ECHS.

  • Instead, they received a monthly ex-gratia payment of up to ₹40,000, which families argue falls far short of actual medical expenses.

Justice Nagarthna along with Justice R. Mahadevan initiated the suo-motu case and sought responses from:

  • Ministry of Defence

  • Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

  • Armed Forces

The Bench questioned whether the government could:

  • Implement a group medical insurance plan or one-time ex-gratia payment.

  • Reassess these individuals for rehabilitation into desk jobs or other roles within the Armed Forces.

The court emphasised that this was an act of Social Justice, not an adversarial litigation.

Conclusion

By seeking a comprehensive response from the government and Armed Forces, the Supreme Court has opened the door to potential services that go beyond the current insufficient ex-gratia payments.

This move:

  • Offers a ray of light to the affected cadets and their families.

  • Sends a strong message that the nation has a moral and legal obligation to care for those who sacrificed for the country.

This case will be a crucial test of whether the government can work collaboratively with the Judiciary to create a more compassionate and equitable system for these Braveheart Cadets.

✨ Related Blogs

Advocate Mamta Singh Shukla
Supreme Court of India
📞 Mob. No. – 9560044035

Location: IRS Society, 112, Abhay Khand 2, Shanti Vihar, Abhay Khand, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201014, India

Comments

  1. Dr Amita Bahl19 August 2025 at 19:10

    It’s a very sensitive topic, do very well written, highlighting the inadequacies faced by the target population! I’m glad , dome like minded people are now looking into the matter. Happy to see you writing on a very poignant issue. Please keep it up

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mamta Singh Shukla27 September 2025 at 11:38

    Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. It truly means a lot to know that the issue resonates with like-minded people. The struggles faced by this section of society deserve more attention, and I’ll keep trying to shed light on them. Your support motivates me to continue writing on such important topics.

    ReplyDelete

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