Women candidates are allowed to appear for UPSC NDA Exam 2021, says SC
On February 17 last year, a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Ajay directed the government to grant permanent commission to women officers of the Indian Army serving under Short Service Commission including command postings. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court in an interim order has allowed the women aspirants to sit for the National Defence Academy (NDA) entrance exam 2021. It, however, said that admission of women candidates will be subject to the final outcome of the petition.
A division bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy has passed this interim order in a writ petition filed by Kush Kalra seeking permission for women candidates to appear for the National Defence Academy examination conducted by UPSC every year.
The UPSC NDA/NA II Exam 2021 which was scheduled to be conducted on September 5, 2021 has been postponed to be conducted on November 14, 2021 along with the already scheduled Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2021.
The SC stated in its interim order that the “policy decision” to bar women from admission to the NDA “is based on gender discrimination”, a bench of Justices S K Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy asked the government “to take a constructive view of the matter”, and referred to the court’s ruling, on February 17 last year, allowing permanent commission for women officers.
The bench has also asked the UPSC to issue a corrigendum in keeping with its interim direction and “give due publicity so that the intent of the order is translated into effect”. It, however, said that admission of women candidates will be subject to the final outcome of the petition.