National Defence Academy opens to Women after SC push

By: WE Staff | Thursday, 9 September 2021

The Union government has decided to make the National Defence Academy (NDA) open to women as well. The judgement comes after the Supreme Court, on August 18, cracked a 65-year-old glass ceiling by ruling that women can appear for the forthcoming NDA entrance exams, citing "gender discrimination" as the reason for the policy restricting women's access to the elite institution.

The Centre informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday that the decision to allow women to join the Indian armed forces' joint defence service training school was made on Tuesday evening in consultation with the chiefs of the three wings of the armed forces.

A bench led by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul praised the government's action and requested a thorough affidavit by September 20 detailing how the policy will be implemented and when it will be implemented.

“We do hope the defence forces value the important role women are performing. You may go at a comfortable pace, but redressal must take place.... The armed forces play an important role in the system, for performing an immensely essential function. We would not easily interfere in their dynamic approach needs to be adopted," it said.

On August 18, the Supreme Court dismissed the government's contention that the ban on women training at the Pune-based NDA was a policy decision, while providing an interim order allowing them to sit for the November examination. It also urged the government to "take a more constructive approach to the situation."

Kush Kalra had petitioned for equal opportunities for women in the NDA and the Indian Naval Academy, and the order was granted. Senior attorney Chinmoy Pradip Sharma and advocate Mohit Paul, who represented the petitioner, argued that the categorical exclusion of female candidates from the NDA was illegal and based solely on their gender.

Only male candidates aged 16 and a half to 19 who had completed class 12 or its equivalent schooling and were between the ages of 16 and a half and 19 were eligible to apply under the existing qualifying conditions.

Those who pass the NDA exam are invited to an interview by the Service Selection Board (SSB), and after a medical exam, candidates are recruited for pre-commission training in the NDA's army, navy, and air force wings. The National Defense Agency (NDA) was established in 1955.

On behalf of the Centre, additional solicitor general (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati appeared on Wednesday and began her submission by stating that the court's nudge and push had brought results.