'Final opportunity': SC seeks Centre's stand on plea for women in NDA

The Supreme Court on Friday gave the final opportunity to the Centre to file its response on a petition seeking directions to allow eligible women candidates into National Defence Academy NDA where only men can join nowA bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy observed notice was issued on the petition earlier this year but the Centre has not filed a counteraffidavit so farSenior advocate Chinmoy Pradip Sharma representing petitioner Kush Kalra submitted the next round of examination is scheduled on September 5In a fresh application Kalra pointed out that the UPSC on June 9 had issued notice declaring the date of examination for admission to the Army Navy Air Force wings of the NDA It is further submitted that willing female candidates shall suffer irreparably if the said notification issued by Respondent No 4 UPSC is not stayed as the examination is to be conducted on September 5 2021 it saidAfter hearing arguments in the matter the bench posted the matter to August 18 to consider the issue of grant of interim reliefThe application said the examination notice is in complete violation of Article 14 15 16 and 19 of the Constitution It pointed out that notice categorically states a condition for eligibility for the examination that the candidate must be an unmarried male which excludes eligible and willing female candidatesThe top court was hearing a plea seeking directions for necessary steps to be taken to allow eligible female candidates to appear for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination and train at the National Defence AcademyOn March 10 a bench headed by then Chief Justice SA Bobde had issued notice to Centre on the pleaThe plea contended that Articles 14 15 16 and 19 of the Constitution are being violated by denying the opportunity to eligible and willing female candidates to join the National Defence Academy and afford them a chance to enrol train and develop themselves into future leaders of the Indian Armed Forces The categorical exclusion of eligible female candidates from entering the National Defence Academy is not constitutionally justifiable and is simply done on the basis of their sex said the plea filed through advocate Mohit PaulThe plea contended the Centre allows unmarried male candidates having adequate 102 qualification to take the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination However eligible and willing female candidates are not allowed to take the said examination on the sole ground of their sex and without any reasonable or justifiable explanations within the four corners of the Constitution said the pleaThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever