‘Unsustainable in law’: Armed Forces Tribunal reinstates Agniveer

The Armed Forces Tribunal has overturned the Indian Army's decision to discharge Anas Chauhan, reinstating him with all associated benefits. The court ruled that Chauhan could not be penalized for failing to disclose a pending criminal case from when he was a minor. The tribunal allowed Chauhan's petition on August 17, overturning the Army's discharge order dated January 20, 2026.

The Army had discharged Chauhan under Rule 13(3)(IV) of the Army Rules, 1954, claiming he withheld information on his enrollment form. Chauhan was selected for the Agniveer program in the 2024-25 recruitment drive after passing physical tests. A police report revealed an adverse reference to an FIR registered in Meerut on October 3, 2020, against 16 individuals, including Chauhan, under various IPC provisions.

Chauhan's defense argued that he was around 17 years old during the incident and that the FIR contained general allegations only. The Allahabad High Court, in a 2025 order, stated that the matter should not be treated as a pending criminal case when seeking appointment in the Agniveer process. The tribunal upheld this high court direction, stating that Chauhan was lawfully protected.

The tribunal emphasized that the protection granted by the high court meant the applicant's candidature would not be disqualified due to the pending FIR.