Khushi Doshi
Published on March 8, 2022 at 18:25 IST
The Ministry of Defence has requested an Extension of Three Months from the Supreme Court in Order to Respond to the Supreme Court’s request for a Higher intake of Female Candidates in the National Defence Academy, Rashtriya Indian Military College, Rashtriya Military Schools, and Sainik Schools for the 2022 Admissions.
According to the Ministry, Induction of Women Cadets in the National Defence Academy was a Major Policy decision, and thus adequate Time is required to consider the Long-Term Implications of Induction and Deployment of ex-NDA Women Cadets in the Indian Armed Forces.
As a result, the Ministry has submitted that the Respondents require at least Three Months more time to complete this.
The Ministry filed an Affidavit after a Bench of Justice Sanjay Kaul and MM Sundresh issued Notice to the Union on an application that stated that even for the NDA I – 2022 Examination, the intake of Female Candidates was limited to 19 for the Army, Navy, and Airforce.
With the current Allocation of 10 Women Candidates per course in the National Defence Academy, the Women’s Corps will grow by 5%. It has been argued that the proportional Strength of Women Cadets in the National Defence Academy exceeds the proportional Strength of Women Officers in the Indian Army.
Aside from the National Defence Academy, up to 80 Women are Inducted each Year through other means and are Eligible for Permanent Commission.
According to the Plea, the Respondents’ Practise of categorically excluding Eligible and willing Female Candidates from appearing for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examinations solely on the Basis of Gender is a Violation of the Fundamental Right to Equality before the Law and Equal Protection of the Law.