Supreme Court transfers petitions challenging Agnipath scheme to Delhi High Court

The Supreme Court transferred the petitions against the Agnipath scheme brought by the Central Government to the Delhi High Court on Tuesday.

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala passed the order on three petitions filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, out of which two were public interest litigations, and one petition was for seeking selection in the Air Force.

The Supreme Court refused to transfer the cases pending in different High Courts across the country. The concerned High courts either give an option to the petitioners to either have their petitions transferred to the Delhi High Court or to keep their petitions pending. The court also requested the Delhi High court to take up the matter and dispose of it expeditiously.

The court said that the cases are pending in the High Courts of Patna, Punjab and Haryana, Uttarakhand and Kerala; the High Court should transfer these matters to the Delhi High Court, if the petitioner does not want to do so, then keep the case pending. The Supreme Court has also asked the Delhi High Court to take a quick decision in this matter.

Advocate Harsh Ajay Singh and Advocate ML Sharma filed the PIL. Moreover, Advocate ML Sharma called the Agnipath scheme “illegal and unconstitutional”.

Earlier on June 14, the cabinet approved the Agnipath scheme to change the recruitment process in Armed Forces. Despite facing criticism, the ruling party decided to bring change in the upper age limit for recruiting Agniveers.

However, under this, the youth will get employment and an opportunity to serve the country. Talking about the scheme, the Defense Minister said this would give youth experience and open up new employment opportunities.