The Delhi High Court is scheduled to announce its verdict on Monday regarding the petitions that challenge the Agnipath military recruitment scheme. This recruitment scheme sparked protests last year because of its shorter tenure and fewer benefits offered to recruits.
Following the hearings on December 15, a bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad reserved its judgment on the matter. The parties involved in the case were asked to submit their written arguments by December 23 before the court’s winter vacation.
In July, the Supreme Court transferred the petitions. It asked the high courts of Kerala, Punjab and Haryana, Patna, and Uttarakhand to transfer the pleas against the scheme to the Delhi high court or keep them pending till a decision is delivered if the petitioners so desire.
In August, the Delhi high court declined to halt the scheme and said it would hear the matter instead of passing an interim order.
The Union government told the court in October that recruitment in the military is an essential sovereign function keeping national security in mind.
It added structural changes were necessitated in the context of the “sea change” in global military warfare, “to evolve a youthful, modern and futuristic fighting force” and to infuse young blood into the Army, who are mentally and physically fit.
The Union government argued Agnipath is a “tailor-made scheme” which has been formulated after comprehensive discussions by experts to serve the needs of the nation and a changing warfare.
