Her turn to serve

he Supreme Court’s order on Wednesday directing the government to make arrangements for admitting women to the entrance examination for admission to the National Defence Academy (NDA) to be held in November this year marks the logical culmination of the efforts the apex court has been taking for long to open the gates of the armed forces for women. It had earlier ruled in favour of giving permanent commission to women in the Army, and has now asked the government to make its stand clear on girls’ admission to Rashtriya Indian Military College, a feeder institution of the NDA.

The latest order is a follow up of the one issued on August 18 this year allowing women’s entry in NDA and directing the Union Public Service Commission to facilitate them taking the next scheduled examination. The court did not budge when the government came up with various impediments, which include setting medical standards for women and preparing the needed infrastructure and sought time till next May. The court was its persuasive best, saying the Armed Forces have always risen to the challenges thrown at them, and insisted that while it was mindful of the issues, it cannot belie the hopes it had sown in the minds of women with its earlier order. Gender equality issues cannot be postponed, it has noted.

The apex court has pointed out earlier, too, that it did not want to issue an order to the Armed Forces when it comes to equality of women. While dealing with the question of granting permanent commission to women officers in the Army, the court had pointed out that the Navy and the Air Force had acted voluntarily and it would appreciate the Army doing so. Indian society, too, would be happier if all the wings of the Armed Forces change with the changing times without the prodding of the judiciary.