PlL In Supreme Court Seeks To Direct Centre To Reconsider Agnipath Recruitment Scheme

Preferred by Advocate Harsh Ajay Singh, the writ states that the announcement of the Scheme has caused nation-wide protest in Bihar, UP, Telangana, Haryana, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and various other states due to the short- term duration of the scheme in the Indian Army for four years coupled with future uncertainties of the trained 'Agniveers'.

Singh in his petition has further contended that on completion of the four-year tenure in the prime of their youth, the Agniveers, would not be matured so as to retain self-discipline with the realization to become a better version of himself/herself both professionally as also personally.

Against this backdrop he has also sought for staying of the implementation of the scheme from June 24, 2022.

Contending that there is great possibilities for the Agniveers trained under the scheme to go astray, the petition filed through Advocate Kumud Lata Das states, "nation should never compromise with the army personnels, making up the fighting sinews of its armed forces. They shouldn't be looked upon as a burden to the exchequer, but as rough diamonds, to be cut and polished to their maximum capabilities and then deployed in the defense of the nation."

As a result of caveat filed by the Centre, the petitioner has also served the petition to the Union.

It may be noted that a plea has been already been filed in Supreme Court challenging the Centre's "Agnipath" recruitment scheme for armed forces.

Another PIL has also been preferred which 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 Centre's "Agnipath" recruitment scheme.

Case Title: Harsh Ajay Singh v UOI| Diary No 18774 of 2022