Women will be admitted to National Defence Academy, Centre tells SC

The Centre on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that women will be allowed in the National Defence Academy, Bar and Bench reported.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati made the submission in the court and said she was delighted to inform the court about the decision.

In an interim decision last month, the Supreme Court had allowed women to appear for the admission examination for the National Defence Academy.

The court was hearing a plea by lawyer Kush Kalra seeking permission for women candidates to appear for the exam. In the petition, Kalra had argued that the exclusion of candidates from the National Defence Academy was not constitutionally justifiable and amounted to discrimination on the basis of gender.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court appreciated the Centre’s stand on the matter.

“Armed forces are a respected branch in the country but for gender equality they need to do more,” the court said. “We are happy with the stand. Reforms cannot happen in a day, we are also conscious.”

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