Decision taken to allow induction of women in NDA, Centre tells SC: Report

NEW DELHI: The Central Government told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that a decision has been taken to allow induction of girls in the National Defence Academy, a report from the Live Law said.

The Centre has requested the Supreme Court to exempt the admissions 2021 from the entry of women for there is a need to make changes in the infrastructure.

The Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati submitted the decision before a bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul in a plea seeking to allow women to join the armed forces through NDA, as per the Live Law report.

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“There's good news. A decision has been taken at highest level of forces and government that girls will be inducted for Permanent Commission through National Defence Academy. Decision was taken late evening yesterday, Bhati said, according to the Live Law report.

The ASG further said that there is a need to change policy, procedure, training, and infrastructure and asked the court to consider granting status quo for this year's admissions, the Live Law report said.

Earlier this year, NDA exams were scheduled to be held on September 5 but later they were postponed to November 24 by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

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On August 18, the Supreme Court had passed an interim order permitting women candidates to appear in the NDA exams on a provisional basis. A petition was filed by Kush Kalra who said that keeping women out of NDA was discriminatory and unconstitutional, the Live Law report said.

Justice Kaul said: “We have been periodically nudging the authorities to do it by themselves. We do believe they are best suited to evolve rules. Armed forces are respected forces of this country, but on gender equality they have to do more”.

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The bench said that they are glad to know that the Armed Forces have taken this decision to induct women. They also praised the ASG for her approach in convincing the Armed Forces to take a gender equal decision.

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