Women to take NDA exam this Nov, can’t deny them hope: SC

Apex court rejects Centre’s plan to defer girl’s NDA entry by a year

New Delhi, Sept. 22: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to accept the Centre’s request to let women candidates to appear for the entrance exam to the National Defence Academy (NDA) from next year, saying it doesn’t want women to be denied their right. The induction of women cannot be posted by one year, it said and added that the first batch of girls should be allowed to take the NDA exam this year, on November 14. “We gave hope to the girls. We cannot deny them that hope now,” said the judges.

The Centre had told the top court that a notification allowing women candidates to appear for the entrance exam to the NDA will be out by May next year.

A bench headed by Justice S.K. Kaul said it will be difficult to accept the prayer “in view of the aspirations of the candidates

We gave hope to the girls. We cannot deny them that hope now. If they appear in exams in May 2022 then the intake will take place in January 2023. We cannot delay things by a year. Armed Forces have seen far emergent situations both at the border and in the country and the court is sure such training will come handy here. — Supreme Court

willing to take the exam”.

“If they appear in exams in May 2022 then the intake will take place in January 2023. We cannot delay things by a year,” Justices S.K. Kaul and B.R. Gavai said.

The bench said the armed forces are the best response team to deal with emergency situations and it is hopeful that necessary arrangements will be put in place to pave the way for the induction of women in NDA without delay.

“Armed Forces have seen far emergent situations both at the border and in the country” and the court is “sure such training will come handy here.”

Asking the government to work out something, Justice Kaul remarked: “What answer would we have for the students who are on the anvil of taking the exam? Don’t ask us to effectively vacate the order. You go on with the exercise. Let us see the result and see how many get it.”

The top court noted the submissions made by senior advocate Chinmoy Pradip Sharma, appearing on behalf of the petitioner Kush Kalra, and said that it cannot postpone the induction of women by one year. Additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati submitted that a study group has been formed to facilitate the entry of women, and the necessary mechanism to facilitate that can be put in place by May 2022.

The ASG sought skipping the next NDA entrance examination, scheduled to be held on November 14.

“We appreciate your problems. I’m sure you people are capable of finding solutions. Let us see the results. The planning can go on... It is difficult for us to accept this submission from the Centre in view of the aspirations of the candidates willing to take the exam,” the bench said.