Delhi HC upholds validity of Agnipath Scheme; says scheme introduced in national interest

The Delhi High Court today dismissed a series of petitions challenging the Agnipath scheme for recruitment to the armed forces. The court said the system was created in the national interest and to ensure better equipment for the armed forces.

Introduced in June last year, the Agnipath scheme lays down rules for recruiting young people into the armed forces. Those between the ages of 17 and a half to 21 can apply to the scheme and would be inducted for a four-year term. The regime enables 25 percent of them to subsequently provide regular transport. After the scheme was revealed, protests broke out in several states against the scheme.

Hearing a batch of petitions challenging the plan, a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said, "The system is created in the national interest and to ensure better equipment of the armed forces." While delivering the judgement, the court also said there was no reason to interfere with the Agnipath recruitment programme.

The court also dismissed the petitions regarding the recruitment process of the armed forces based on some previous advertisements, clarifying that such candidates are not eligible to apply for recruitment. The court reserved a verdict on a number of claims last December 15.