Delhi HC seeks Centre's reply within 4 weeks on petitions challenging Agnipath scheme

Unveiled on June 14, the Agnipath scheme provides for the recruitment of youth between the age group of 17-and-a-half-years to 21 in the armed forces for only four years on a contractual basis with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. Later, the government extended the upper age limit to 23 years from 21 for recruitment under the scheme in 2022. The youth to be recruited under the new scheme would be called ‘Agniveer’.

TN National Desk

Updated Aug 25, 2022, 11:28 IST

Delhi HC

Photo : PTI

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Centre to file its reply within four weeks on petitions challenging the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the armed forces. The court sought the response of the government through concerned ministries.

The high court refused to stay the scheme which led to widespread protests across the country in June.

The court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the short-term military recruitment scheme. The Supreme Court on July 19 transferred all the pleas pending before it to the Delhi High Court challenging the scheme.

The HC also asked the Centre to file a separate reply copy on various pending recruitment processes in the armed forces before the introduction of the Agnipath scheme.

Unveiled on June 14, the scheme provides for the recruitment of youth between the age group of 17-and-a-half-years to 21 in the armed forces for only four years on a contractual basis with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years.

Later, the government extended the upper age limit to 23 years from 21 for recruitment under the scheme in 2022. The youth to be recruited under the new scheme would be called ‘Agniveer’.

Following the announcement of the scheme, the Centre faced immense flak from the opposition leaders who demanded that the recruitment plan be withdrawn.

In June, several parts of the country also witnessed violent protests with agitators hitting the street, torching trains and vehicles, and blocking and damaging railway tracks to express their resentment.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi earlier said that it was unfortunate that the government has 'ignored' the voice of youth, and added that said her party will work for the withdrawal of the scheme.

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