The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Central government on a batch of petitions challenging the Agnipath Recruitment Scheme.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramoniam Prasad directed the Centre to file a reply within four weeks and fixed October 18 as the next date of hearing.
The Counsel for the petitioners told the court that the matter involved serious questions and it must be heard.
ASG Aishwarya Bhati was further asked to submit reponses to the petitions filed by personnel across IAF and Indian Navy.
Earlier on July 19, the Supreme Court had transferred the petitions challenging the Agnipath scheme and seeking continuation of recruitment for the forces to Delhi High Court.
A Bench comprising Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice Surya Kant and Justice AS Bopanna had then stated that pleas challenging the validity of Agnipath scheme or directions to the Centre/armed forces to complete recruitment process was initiated earlier.
The High Courts of Kerala, Delhi, Punjab & Haryana, Patna and Uttarakhand were hearing the matters and proceedings have been initiated before the Armed Forces Tribunal, Kochi.
Agnipath, the recruitment scheme launched by the Central government, provides recruitment to the youth in the Indian Army between the age group of 17-and-a-half and 21 for four years with a provision to retain 25 percent of them for 15 more years.