Shivangi Prakash-
Published on: August 18, 2021 15:16 IST
This year’s UPSC NDA Examination would be open to women candidates, according to the Supreme Court.
Women can apply for the National Defence Academy examination, which will be held on September 5, 2021. Admission to the academy will be contingent on the court’s final orders.
The development came when one Kush Kalra filed a writ case asking for authorization for women to take the NDA entrance exam. The appeal highlighted the issue of a breach of Articles 14, 15, 16, and 19 of the Indian Constitution by denying eligible women candidates the right to join the NDA.
“Eligible and willing female candidates are not allowed to take the said examination (of NDA and Naval Academy) on the sole ground of their sex…and this act of discrimination is a dishonour committed by the respondents to the Constitutional values of equality (Article 14); Article 16 (equal opportunities in matters of public employment); Article 19 (freedom to practice a profession), and non-discrimination (Article 15) in the Constitution of India”.
Senior Advocate Chinmoy Pradip Sharma, together with Advocates Mohit Paul, Sunaina Phul, and Irfan Hasieb, represented the petitioner.
The interim judgement was issued by a Division Bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy in a writ case filed by Kush Kalra seeking permission for women candidates to sit in the UPSC’s annual National Defence Academy examination.
During the hearing, the Centre said, “Women are being granted equal opportunity in the armed forces in the avenues that have been opened up for employment of women. There is no violation of any fundamental right merely on account of the mode of entries available to men and women to join the armed forces.”
In addition to Kalra’s plea, the Supreme Court is reviewing Kailas Udhavrao More’s request for girls to be admitted to the century-old Rashtriya Indian Military College in Dehradun beginning this academic year.
According to the official announcement, this exam will fill 370 positions at the National Defence Academy and 30 positions at the Naval Academy (10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme).
Earlier the eligibility criteria was that candidates should be unmarried male and should be born not earlier than January 2, 2003, and not later than January 1, 2006.
However, given this sequence, it is envisaged that women candidates born between the dates listed above will be able to sit for the exam.
The apex court said that admissions will be subject to the final order.
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