RAHUL SUBASH Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners, who are aspirants for enlistment in Indian Army, seek to quash Ext.P10 and to direct the respondents to continue the earlier recruitment process commenced by Exts.P1 and P2 irrespective of Ext.P10. The petitioners are aggrieved by Ext.P10 Recruitment Rally Notification for appointment as Agniveer General Duty, Agniveer Technical, Agniveer Clerk / Store Keeper Technical and Agniveer Personnel.

(2.) The petitioners state that they have applied pursuant to notifications dtd. 21/10/2020 and 18/12/2020 for recruitment in Indian Army. They have cleared the recruitment rally held before the lockdown in 2020. The petitioners have cleared Medical Examination. Written Examination was, however, postponed from time to time. According to the petitioners, the Union Government had committed before the Parliament that they will finalise the recruitment already commenced.

(3.) To the surprise of the petitioners, the Government of India cancelled the recruitment process and framed a new Scheme called Agnipath Scheme for recruitment to Military Service. The Scheme modified only the age limit and maximum age limit to 21 years and for the present year, the upper age limit was relaxed to two years. The service conditions including pay and pension were altered substantially.