SC Sends Notice To Centre Asking Why There Are No Women In National Defence Academy

Supreme Court NDA: The Supreme Court issued a notice to the central government, the National Defence Academy (NDA) and UPSC acting a plea that argued women do not get admission at the NDA solely because of their gender.

The advocate Kush Kalra, who filed the petition said that the women not getting entry in NDA is a violation of the fundamental right of equality and their right to practice a profession. The NDA is India's military training facility from where junior armed force officials graduate.

The petition read, "The act of the respondents to categorically exclude eligible and willing female candidates from appearing for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination over the years, solely on the ground of sex, is a violation of the fundamental right of equality before the law and equal protection of the law".

The eligibility criteria is that a candidate should have 10+2 level of education. Kalra argued that eligible female candidates are denied opportunity to take the NDA examination because of their gender. He added that the denial is the reason women do not have access to enter the armed forces as officers at the level men become junior officers.

The petition said that even after the recent leeways given by the Supreme Court which allowed women to join the permanent commission, the number of women officers in the army is extremely low. It also said that the NDA does give an explanation as to why women are denied entry.

"This opportunity to take the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination at the age of 15-18 years, with the eligible academic qualifications is not available to eligible and willing female candidates and the sole reason for this categorical exclusion is on the basis of their sex," the plea said.

The plea added that the training duration for Short Service Commission women officers is less compared to what a male permanent officer gets at the NDA.