From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to list next week on the reopening of the Court after the summer vacation, all petitions challenging the government’s Agnipath recruitment scheme for the defence forces, of course subject to the Chief Justice of India’s approval as it is always required.
A vacation bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and J K Maheshwari conceded an urgent hearing on a mention by a lady counsel, pleading that the scheme should not be made applicable to those who are already undergoing a selection process.
She told the court that the matter was urgent since the career of several aspirants was at stake and the scheme will cut short the tenure of the aspirants to 4 years from 20 years.
The lawyer told the court that she was compelled to mention it in the open court since despite several mentionings, the registry did not give a specific date.
Another Delhi lawyer Manohar Lal Sharma also mentioned his plea to quash the notification issued on June 14 by the Ministry of Defence, announcing the scheme.
Sharma, known for his PILs on every subject, said the government can certainly bring out any scheme but it is the question of right and wrong. More than 70,000 recruits are still awaiting the appointment letters.
After hearing the arguments, the vacation bench said: “List it before the appropriate bench after reopening.” The Supreme Court is to reopen after its summer vacation ends this week.
