Women To Appear For NDA Exams, Army Slammed For 'Gender Discrimination': What SC Ordered

The Supreme Court passed an interim order to allow women to take the admission exam to National Defence Academy (NDA). The Centre had earlier said that women cannot claim violation of any fundamental right for being denied entry as the male cadets trained there do not have any automatic advantage in future career advancement prospects over the women.

The result would be subject to final adjudication of the petitions.

¡°Don't do tokenism. Why do you need the judiciary to pass orders every time,¡± asked the Supreme Court, slamming the Indian Army for not giving opportunities to women.

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¡°You're compelling the judiciary to keep on granting orders. It's better that you (Army) structure it than inviting court orders. We are permitting the girls who have approached the court to sit for the NDA examination because we will be considering the larger issue,¡± observed the Supreme Court.

The court has meanwhile permitted women to take the NDA examination in an ¡°interim measure¡±. ¡°We will consider the issue of admission of girls to NDA as a policy on September 5,¡± ruled the Supreme Court bench of Justices SK Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy.

The apex court lashed out at the Indian Army for 'gender discrimination' since Indian Navy and Air Force have already made provisions, but Indian Army stilol lags behind.

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Justice Kaul further asked, ¡°Does the NDA not feed people to the same 10 streams where women are allowed? You have not given Permanent Commission, you didn't even give it in law and other streams till the Supreme Court stepped in.¡±

¡°It's a question of mindset which is not changing. That's why despite so many opportunities in the SC and HC, we couldn't persuade the government. Every time the order has come from court it has expanded the scope,¡± said the Supreme Court.