In an “interim measure”, the top court has permitted women to take the NDA examination.
Calling out the “regressive mindset” of the Indian army, the Apex Court today pulled the army up for not allowing women candidates in the National Defence Academy (NDA), Sainik Schools and other military institutions.
Slamming the Indian Army for not giving opportunities to women, the Supreme Court said: “Don’t do tokenism. Why do you need the judiciary to pass orders every time?”
“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,” said the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
In an “interim measure”, the top court has permitted women to take the NDA examination. “We will consider the issue of admission of girls to NDA as a policy on September 5,” ruled the two-judge bench comprising of Justices SK Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy.
Rapping the Indian Army over “continued gender discrimination” against women candidates, the bench said that while the Indian Navy and Air Force have already made provisions, the Indian Army still lags behind.
“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,” Justice Kaul further said.
“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.
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