New Delhi: The Supreme Court slammed the Indian Army on Wednesday for barring women from appearing for the National Defence Academy (NDA) entrance exams. The top court called the Army’s “policy decision” gender discrimination.
The Supreme Court allowed the women to appear for the NDA exam slated to be held on September 5. The court said the admissions will be subject to the final orders of the court.
Kush Kalra filed a writ petition and sought permission for women to sit for the NDA entrance exam. Kalra was represented by Senior Advocate Chinmoy Pradip Sharma, along with Advocates Mohit Paul, Sunaina Phul and Irfan Hasieb.
The petition highlighted the violation of Articles 14, 15, 16 and 19 of the Constitution of India by denying eligible women candidates the opportunity 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 petition read.
The Centre responded, “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,” during the hearing.
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