The Delhi High Court has strongly criticized the Indian Air Force (IAF) for its lack of provisions to offer medical assistance to individuals injured during training who are subsequently not commissioned into the IAF.
The court's observations came during the hearing of a petition by Nidhi Verma, who sustained injuries during her IAF training and sought to challenge the decision to terminate her training and cadetship.
The court expressed its dismay at the situation, highlighting that Ms. Verma, a young woman from a rural background, was not only denied further training but was also left to handle her medical needs with only a meager ex-gratia payment.
The Centre's counsel informed the court that there is no provision to provide medical assistance to trainees like Ms. Verma who are injured during training and are not commissioned. Such provisions are only available for ex-service personnel and pensioners.
The court found this explanation unsatisfactory, stating its inability to comprehend how the IAF could shirk its responsibility to provide medical assistance to young individuals like the petitioner who suffer injuries during training, particularly when it's acknowledged that her injuries were attributable to service.
Ms. Verma's training was terminated in 2012. She has alternatively requested that if she cannot be commissioned in the Flying Branch, the Centre should induct her into the Technical Branch or any other Ground Duty Branch of the IAF.
The Centre opposed her petition, arguing that even if she is now fit, she cannot be inducted at this stage due to her age. In response to her plea for induction into Ground Duties, the Centre reiterated that it wasn't possible as she hadn't opted for Ground Duty while applying.
Ms. Verma, present in court, then requested that even if she couldn't be commissioned, the Centre should at least provide for her further medical treatment due to her spinal injury sustained during training.
The court will continue hearing the case on August 20th.
