PIL In Supreme Court Challenges Agnipath Recruitment Scheme For Armed Forces

A PIL has been filed in Supreme Court challenging the Centre's "Agnipath" recruitment scheme for armed forces.

The petition filed by serial PIL litigant Advocate ML Sharma has sought to quash the notification dated June 14, 2022 issued by the Ministry of Defence, contending that the same is "illegal, unconstitutional and void ab-initio & ultra vires to the constitution of India in the interest of justice".

It is stated in the 6-page petition that an officer getting selected through Permanent Commission entry in the armed forces has the option to serve nation up to the age of 60 years; in Short Service Commission (SSC), an officer has the option of joining the Army and serving as a Commissioned Officer for a period of 10/14 years. However, only 25% of the "Agniveers" recruited through the "Agnipath" scheme will be retained in the forces and the rest 75% will be sent out of service. 

Sharma in the petition has further stated in that soon after the announcement of the scheme, a large section of youth aspiring for armed forces recruitment felt disappointed with the scheme and started protests across the country. The protests turned violent leading to burning of trains and blocking of national highways.

It may be noted that a PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking the setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to enquire into mass violence and damage to public properties, including that of railways, during the widespread protests against the "Agnipath" recruitment scheme.