ECHS medical benefits extended to Armed Forces cadets disabled in training accidents: MoD informs Supreme Court

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) informed the Supreme Court on Thursday (September 4, 2025) that Armed Forces cadets medically boarded-out due to disability “attributable or aggravated by military training” have been included in the Ex- Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).

Appearing before a Bench headed by Justice B.V. Nagarathna, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said inclusion in the ECHS would ensure invalidated cadets received free medical care.

“All their medical needs will be fully taken care of without any bar or cap,” Ms. Bhati submitted.

The government law officer informed the court that the decision to extend ECHS to invalidated cadets was taken on August 29. The government has even waived invalidated cadets from paying the mandatory one-time subscription fee of ₹1.2 lakh under the scheme.

The ECHS, set up in 2003, provides allopathic and AYUSH medicare to Armed Forces pensioners and ex-service personnel and their dependents. The court asked the government to streamline the ECHS registration for the outboarded cadets by September 15.

The Union government’s action came in response to the apex court taking suo motu cognisance of a media report highlighting the plight of Armed Forces cadets, who were medically boarded-out after training accidents.

In a previous hearing, Justice Nagarathna said the cadets, for no fault of theirs, had been left “high and dry” without any substantial efforts taken to cover their treatment expenses or rehabilitation.

“Risks involved in military training are very high. If nothing is done when cadets suffer accidents, people who look up to the Armed Forces and want to join, would be disheartened. These are after all accidents, and not caused by the cadets’ negligence,” Justice Nagarathna had observed.

The court had, in the previous hearing, suggested the government consider bringing cadets injured in training under the ECHS.

On Thursday, the Bench requested the government and the Armed Forces to consider a scheme for medical reassessment of such cadets for the purpose of their resettlement.

“The Armed Forces has many schools and establishments. These cadets, after their medical treatment, could be re-assessed and resettled so they earn a living as a teacher or a desk worker or any other alternative employment in the place where they live… At least, your certificate of reassessment would help them get a job elsewhere,” Justice Nagarathna addressed the government side.

“Do something for their resettlement after considering them as a separate category,” Justice Nagarathna urged.

Ms. Bhati responded that a tailor-made scheme would have to be devised for them.

The court also urged the government to enhance the insurance and ex-gratia amounts given to invalidated cadets.

The court appointed senior advocate Rekha Palli as amicus curiae and listed the case on October 7.