The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to list next week the petitions challenging the central government’s Agneepath scheme to include youth in all three-armed forces divisions, subject to the Chief Justice’s approval. A lawyer mentioned the petition before a vacation bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and JK Maheshwari.
The counsel representing the candidates of the Armed Forces sought an urgent hearing in the matter and said that the scheme should not be applied to those who are already going through the selection process. He further argued that the matter was urgent, as the careers of many candidates were at stake, and pointed out that the implementation of the scheme would reduce the tenure of candidates from 20 years to 4 years. The lawyer said that despite several mentions, the registry has not given a specific date and urged the top court to give a date for hearing the matter.
Advocate ML Sharma also referred to his plea seeking directions to the apex court to quash the notification dated June 14, 2022 by the Defense Ministry announcing the scheme. Sharma said the government can bring any scheme but it is about right and wrong. He said more than 70,000 are still waiting for appointment letters. After hearing the arguments, the vacation bench said: “List it before the appropriate bench after reopening”.
Sharma’s petition states that a large section of youth has started opposing the scheme in different parts of the country. It said: “As per the promulgated press note … out of 100 per cent candidates selected for Permanent Commission in the Indian Army after 4 years as on 14.06.2022, 25 per cent will continue in the Indian Army Force and the rest 75 per cent. Indian Retired/rejected job in army. Salary and allowances will be paid to them during 4 years but after 4 years deprived candidates will not get any pension etc.
Another petition has been filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, seeking a direction to constitute a committee to probe the scheme and its impact on national security and the military. The Central Government, while filing a caveat in the Supreme Court regarding the petitions related to the ‘Agneepath’ scheme, has said that the court should hear it before taking any decision.
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