The Delhi High court said that it will examine the petitions challenging the central government's Agnipath military recruitment scheme on July 20. The scheme was announced on 14 June for the recruitment of youth between the age of 17 and a-half years to 21 years in defence services for only four years, with a provision to retain 25% of them for 15 more years. Later, the government extended the upper age limit to 23 years for recruitment in 2022.
The HC was hearing an application, which challenges the Indian Navy’s employment plan where it has reserved the right to increase the cut-off marks. The plea says it is contrary to the already laid down eligibility criteria in the advertisement and can’t be done after their applications were received for recruitment as Person Below Officer Rank (PBOR) in the force.
Bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra and Justice Subramonium Prasad was informed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that similar petitions challenging the Agnipath scheme are already pending before the high court and they be heard together on July 20.
Petitions filed by several aspirants sought publication of the enrolment list in terms of the December 11, 2019 notification and issuance of appointment letters. The petitioners also sought a declaration that the 2019 notification shall remain unaffected by the Agnipath Scheme 2022 and the June 24 notification. Their pleas said initially the recruitment was to be done in phases and consists of online test, physical fitness test, group discussion, adaptability test and a medical examination and the names of selected candidates would be published on July 10, 2021. However, the same was not published.
