Must Hear Us Before Any Decision, Union Tells Top Court regarding Agnipath

So far, three petitions are filed within the Supreme Court against 'Agnipath'- the centre's short-term recruitment plan for the militia.

The centre has filed a caveat within the Supreme Court urging that the court "must hear its side" before taking any decision on the petitions challenging the 'Agnipath' military recruitment scheme.

So far, three petitions are filed within the Supreme Court against 'Agnipath'- the centre's short-term recruitment plan for the soldiers. The caveat, however, doesn't mention any plea specifically.

A caveat is filed to make sure that no adverse order is passed against the litigant without being heard.

Advocate Harsh Ajay Singh on Monday filed a petition within the Supreme Court seeking issuance of directions to the centre to reconsider its 'Agnipath' recruitment plan. The petition also mentioned that the announcement of the scheme caused protests in several parts of the country.

Earlier, two separate petitions were filed within the Supreme Court against the scheme by lawyers ML Sharma and Vishal Tiwari respectively.

The petition filed by advocate ML Sharma had alleged that the govt. has quashed the century-old selection process for the defense force which is contrary to the constitutional provisions and without having parliamentary approval.

Last week, advocate Vishal Tiwari in his petition urged the Supreme Court to line up a committee to look at the scheme and its impact on national security and military. It also sought a direction from the highest court to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the large-scale violence against the scheme that led to the destruction of material possession.

Protests broke call at several states after the centre unveiled the 'Agnipath' scheme on day. Under the scheme, people between 17.5 and 21 years are going to be recruited in military for a four-year period, followed by compulsory retirement for many without gratuity and pension benefits.

Later, the govt. extended the upper ordinance to 23 years for recruitment in 2022 in a very bid to pacify the protesters. 

Several opposition parties, likewise as some military veterans, have criticised the scheme, they are saying that the four-year tenure will hit the fighting spirit of the soldiers and make them risk-averse.