Historic Move! Women Will Now Be Allowed To Join NDA, Centre Informs Supreme Court

The Additional Solicitor General sought the apex court’s permission to place a detailed affidavit and sought status quo in this year’s exams as this needs procedure and infrastructural changes.

Supreme Court (File Pic)

New Delhi: The armed forces have decided to induct women into the National Defence Academy (NDA), the Central government informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said that a decision has been taken at the highest level of the armed forces as also the government that females will be inducted for permanent commission through the NDA.

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The Additional Solicitor General sought the apex court’s permission to place a detailed affidavit and sought status quo in this year’s exams as this needs procedure and infrastructural changes.

“We will place a detailed affidavit. On June 24, the exam was postponed to November this year. Please grant status quo in these exams as this needs procedure and infrastructural changes,” he said.

The apex court said it has been periodically nudging the authorities to do it themselves.

“The idea is when nothing happens, the court steps in. Let me assure you it’s not a happy situation to step in and we would like the armed services to do it themselves,” said the apex court bench headed by Justice S K Kaul, PTI reported.

“They are very respected forces of the country but on gender equality they have to do more and sometimes the resistance does not come out well,” the apex court bench, also comprising Justice M M Sundresh, added.

Hearing a plea filed by advocate Kush Kalra raising the issue of exclusion of eligible and willing female candidates from joining the NDA, the apex court welcomed the “positive decision” taken by the heads of armed forces.

“Put on record, we will take up the matter. We are happy with the stand. Let us hear the matter next week. Reforms cannot happen in a day. We are also conscious of that,” the apex court bench added.