Women Candidates Allowed to Appear for NDA Exams: SC

The Supreme Court passed an interim order to allow women candidates to appear for National Defence Academy (NDA) exams. Further it condemned the Indian Army for not permitting women to take part in NDA entrance exams. The apex court called the Army's “policy decision" gender discrimination. Now, the NDA exam is scheduled for September 5. The court further states that the admission would be subject to the final orders of the court.

Kush Kalra had filed a petition seeking permission for women to appear for the NDA entrance exam. The petition raised the issue of violation of Articles 14, 15, 16 and 19 of the Constitution of India by denying the opportunity to eligible women candidates to join NDA.

"Eligible and willing female candidates are not allowed to take the said examination (of NDA and Naval Academy) on the sole ground of their sex…and this act of discrimination is a dishonour committed by the respondents to the Constitutional values of equality (Article 14); Article 16 (equal opportunities in matters of public employment); Article 19 (freedom to practice a profession), and non-discrimination (Article 15) in the Constitution of India".

The petitioner was represented by Senior Advocate Chinmoy Pradip Sharma, along with Advocates Mohit Paul, Sunaina Phul and Irfan Hasieb.

During the hearing, the Centre said, “Women are being granted equal opportunity in the armed forces in the avenues that have been opened up for employment of women. There is no violation of any fundamental right merely on account of the mode of entries available to men and women to join the armed forces."

Additionall, Kalra’s petition, SC is also considering a petition filed by Kailas Udhavrao More seeking admission of girls into the century-old Rashtriya Indian Military College at Dehradun from this academic year. This college is run solely for boys by the ministry of defence.

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