SUO MOTU CASE HEARING AT SUPREME COURT OF MEDICALLY BOARDED OUT CADETS SINCE AUG 2025 AWAITING JUSTICE : "THE PLEA OF CADETS & VOICE OF AFFECTED PARENTS" - By Dr Pahupathi Nath

Editor's Note :

This well articulated piece by an affected parent aptly conveys the essence of the true feelings of parents of medically boarded out cadets from military academies especially the NDA . Such affected parents very ,very rarely express their feelings in this manner , not because they cannot express themselves but more because nobody is interested in listening or reading what they actually have to say ! The academy where their son trained suddenly becomes indifferent or even hostile and the Govt too doesn't care ! In short as coined by the apex court judge in Aug 25 hearing, these cadets are actually " left high and dry ! "

This author has on request from MVI penned down his true feelings , sentiments and recommendations for the concerned authorities to act upon ,especially the academies and Govt agencies/ authorities. The SC has finally heard their plea and the pain ,anguish and suffering behind it borne by the affected cadets & parents . What Dr Pashupathi Nath has stated should be treated as the true voice and plea of all such affected cadets & parents . To resolve this issue speedily & satisfactorily there is a need for a holistic approach and the missing Human Touch !

An extremely relevant article by this author Dr Pashupathi Nath was published by MVI on 13 Oct 2025 and well received by readers .The link of the same is given below.Readers are requested to kindly read it as it is intricately linked with this article .This article highlights the subject of medically boarded out cadets,which is the " symptom " of a deep rooted flaw or problem, the earlier article of 13 Oct 25 elaborately covers several deep rooted flaws ,shortcomings and weaknesses in the system of training of cadets . So while the apex court gives favourable judgement / orders to treat the symptom of a deep rooted problem it is even more important and highly imperative that the military academies and their three services take serious note/ cognizance of what has been stated by this author not only in this piece but more importantly in his article of 13 Oct 25 .While treating the symptom of a problem ( by SC) will be a good development ,removing / treating / addressing the root causes for the same is of paramount importance !

LINK OF 13 OCT 2025

https://www.missionvictoryindia.in/post/ragging-in-military-academies-discipline-or-abuse-in-disguise-dr-pashupati-nath

Col Vinay B Dalvi

Editor, MVI

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The suo motu intervention by the Supreme Court, triggered by a media report highlighting the plight of medically boarded-out cadets, rekindled hope among a section of youth that had all but lost faith in the system. The swift hearings and repeated judicial scrutiny initially conveyed a reassuring message—that the nation had not forgotten those who had sacrificed their dreams, health and future prospects in the service of an institution they revered. For many cadets, the Supreme Court emerged as an unexpected guardian, stepping in where the system itself appeared to have failed them.

The Ministry of Defence's announcement extending ECHS facilities, seemingly made in haste and without clearly defining the modalities of implementation, appeared less a considered policy decision and more an acknowledgment that a long-standing injustice had finally been brought into the spotlight. While welcome, such piecemeal measures fall far short of addressing the larger issues confronting medically boarded-out cadets.

What is particularly disheartening is the unconscionable delay that has followed. Nearly eleven months have elapsed since the matter first came under judicial consideration. Detailed reports, expert recommendations and stakeholder consultations have been completed and placed before the concerned authorities. Yet, despite the passage of time, the affected cadets continue to wait in uncertainty, with no tangible resolution in sight. Justice delayed may not always be justice denied, but for these young men and women, every passing month compounds the emotional, financial and psychological burden borne by them and their families.

The contrast in urgency is difficult to ignore. In matters involving hardened criminals, extraordinary efforts are often made, courtrooms open at unusual hours, and processes are expedited in the name of justice and human rights. Yet, when it comes to young cadets who suffered disabilities while training to serve the nation, the wheels of decision-making appear to move at a painfully indifferent pace. Such disparity inevitably raises questions regarding priorities and institutional sensitivity.

There can be little doubt that those who enter military academies are not ordinary career seekers. They are young men and women who willingly forsake safer and often more lucrative civilian opportunities to embrace a profession where the possibility of injury, disability, and even death is an accepted reality. It takes uncommon courage, conviction, and patriotism for a teenager to choose such a path. Equally remarkable are the parents who support and encourage these aspirations, fully aware of the risks involved.

Yet, for many medically boarded-out cadets, their dreams were extinguished before they had the opportunity to wear the uniform they had worked so tirelessly to earn. Some were rendered physically disabled in the very institutions entrusted with shaping future military leaders. Their aspirations were cut short not by lack of merit, dedication, or character, but by circumstances arising during their pursuit of national service.

The existing policies only deepen this sense of injustice. The denial of Ex-Serviceman status to officer cadets while extending similar recognition to PBOR recruits is difficult to justify on principles of equity and fairness. Equally troubling is the refusal to grant compensation to cadets assessed with disabilities below 20 percent, despite the fact that such disabilities may have been sustained during military training and may continue to affect their quality of life and career prospects indefinitely. These provisions are not merely disappointing; they are perceived by many affected families as arbitrary, insensitive, and fundamentally at odds with the values of honour, duty, and welfare that the Armed Forces proudly uphold.

The nation owes a debt to these young aspirants. They may not have completed their commissioned service, but they paid a price in pursuit of it. Their sacrifice, suffering and shattered aspirations deserve recognition, dignity and timely justice—not prolonged uncertainty and bureaucratic indifference.