Delhi High Court Says: Agnipath Scheme Voluntary, Don’t Join if Having Problem, Know Details

Delhi High Court Statement on Agnipath Scheme: The Delhi High Court demanded facts from the petitioners who are opposing the short-term military recruitment programme Agnipath of the Centre on Monday, December 12, stating that the scheme is voluntary and that anyone experiencing issues should not join it.

According to the high court, military experts from the Army, Navy, and Air Force designed the Agnipath scheme, and judges were not among them.

Agnipath Designed by Military Experts, Says HC

The judges asked the petitioners if they find any problem in the scheme. The court further added that judges are re not specialists in the military. Both the petitioners and judges lack expertise.

After much effort, professionals from the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, and Army framed the scheme.

Justice Subramonium Prasad and Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma’s bench stated that the government has designed a specific policy. It is optional and not compulsory to join it.

The bench asked the petitioners to provided evidence and facts to prove that their right has been violated.

The HC says that there is no pressure on the youths to join the scheme. If a candidate is good enough then he/ she will get a chance to continue after 4 years of service.

The bench again questioned the petitioners if they are the ones to decide the term of the service or the experts can decide it better.

Opposition Speaks About Problems With Agnipath

Advocate Kumud Lata Das said during the hearing that Agniveers will have life insurance of Rs 48 Lakh after being recruited under the plan, which is much less than the current one.

The advocate continued saying that the Agniveers would only be eligible for gratuity if their service had lasted five years rather than four.

She added that only 25% of the Agniveers will be considered to continue the service and rest 75% will have no back up employment plans.

A second petitioner, who was arguing his case in person, stated that he had retired from the Indian Army and is now a practicing lawyer.

He claimed that the Agnipath system should be examined by the government because the Agniveers’ minimum six months of training is insufficient.

He argued that doing things this way would put the nation’s security at risk and lower the quality of the workforce.

Aishwarya Bhati, an additional solicitor general, stated that she will seek guidance on this matter and advise the court on the next hearing date on December 14 as the judge asked the Center to provide clarification.

The court will rule on the petitions pertaining to the armed forces recruiting processes after closing the hearing on arguments on pleas directly challenging the Agnipath Scheme.