A military cadet who suffered a debilitating injury during training at the Officer Training Academy (OTA) in 1999 has finally been granted relief by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The Court has directed the Union government to release ex-gratia compensation, rejecting claims that his injuries were unrelated to military service.
Parveen Salaria, who was set to become a Commissioned Officer, developed severe pain in his right thigh during an intense military exercise. Despite official records confirming that his disability resulted from rigorous training, authorities denied him compensation for years.
The Court dismissed the government’s argument that Salaria’s condition predated his service, emphasizing that a cadet is presumed to be in sound medical condition unless a preexisting ailment is recorded at the time of entry. It ruled that even if Salaria had a prior condition, it was aggravated by military training, making him eligible for compensation under a government scheme.
The ruling ordered immediate payment of arrears with 6% annual interest, warning that further delays would result in penalties. This landmark decision underscores the responsibility of military institutions to support trainees who suffer injuries while serving the nation.