SC LETS WOMEN TO WRITE NDA EXAM

New Delhi: In a major step towards gender equality, the SC on Wednesday allowed eligible women to take the examination for admission to National Defence Academy (NDA) scheduled on September 5.

In another step toward gender equality in armed forces, the Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed women to appear in the National Defence academy (NDA) examinations slated on September 5 and directed the Union Public Service Commission to issue the required notification and give it wide publicity.

On being told that it is a policy decision of the government that women are not allowed in NDA, the top court bench comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Hrishikesh Roy said the policy decision is based on gender discrimination, which cannot be allowed. Passing the interim order, the court however, said that the result of the NDA exam would be subject to the final adjudication of the matter.

The SC’s interim order came on a petition by one Kush Kalra who has also sought direction to allow the eligible female candidates in the Naval Academic Exam as well. During the hearing, senior advocate Chinmoy Pradip Sharma, appearing for Kalra, said they have received the Centre’s counter affidavit on Tuesday in which the government has stated that it is purely a policy decision and court should not interfere with it.

The bench told Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati that why is the government continuing in this direction after the verdicts of this court extending permanent commission in the army and navy to women — who had joined armed forces through a short service commission route. “This is unfounded now. We are finding it absurd. Will the army act on after the judicial orders are passed? We will then pass an order, if that is what you want. I have this impression right from the HC till an order is passed (by the SC), the army does not believe in doing anything voluntarily,” the bench said.