The Supreme Court on Wednesday put the Government on notice in two separate matters related to girls.
Maintaining that induction of women to the NDA cannot be postponed by one year, the Supreme Court allowed female candidates to take the exam in November this year and not wait till May 2022 as requested by the Government.
Hearing a separate matter, the apex court directed the Centre to file an affidavit within two weeks on the issue of induction of girls in the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) in Dehradun saying the issue cannot be delayed further.
Refusing to accept the Centre’s request to allow women candidates to appear for the National Defence Academy (NDA) entrance from next year, the apex court said it doesn’t want women to be denied their right.
The Centre had told the top court that a notification allowing women candidates to appear for the NDA exam will be out by May next year. A Study Group has been constituted by the Defence services, comprising experts to expeditiously formulate a comprehensive curriculum for women cadets at NDA, it had said, adding that a Board of Officers has been convened to give a holistic and futuristic proposal for training of women Cadets at NDA incorporating all relevant aspects.
A Bench headed by Justice SK Kaul said the armed forces are the best response team to deal with emergency situations and it is hopeful that necessary arrangements will be put in place to pave the way for the induction of women in NDA without delay.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, stated that the Study Group has been constituted by the Defence services to examine the changes in curriculum, infrastructure, fitness training, accommodation facilities, etc, and sought for skipping the upcoming NDA entrance examination, scheduled to be held on November 14.
The Bench, however, told the ASG that the process has to begin and other issues may go on in a phased manner. “We appreciate your endeavour to put before us the different areas which will have to be addressed. You have referred to fitness tests etc. But what we are finding it difficult to accept is to postpone everything by a year. Having given some hope to the women to take the examination in November, we don’t want to belie that hope now and say that somebody will get it in future,” the Bench said.
Also hearing the matter related to RIMC, Justice Kaul said the Defence forces having charted a course forward in the NDA, issue of admission of girls in RIMC has to be addressed and cannot be postponed. “We are told the last date for submission of application forms is October 30 and the exam is scheduled for December 18. The Additional Solicitor General (ASG) informs that a separate committee has been formed to iron out creases for induction of women as in case of NDA to address the issues so far as RIMC is concerned.
“Be that as it may, one would expect the complete system to be in place as stated by ASG by May 2022. This leaves us to the question what happens to the exam which is now to be scheduled as we have permitted women candidates to compete for NDA. That being the position we would require the ASG to file an affidavit within two weeks,” the bench also comprising Justice BR Gavai said in its order.