Supreme Court seeks response from Central government in plea challenging exclusion of women from National Defence Academy, Indian Naval Academy

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Central government in a plea seeking directions to allow eligible female candidates to join the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the Indian Naval Academy (INA) [Kush Kalra v. Union of India & Ors]..Notice was issued by a Bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian..The Court also issued notice in an impleadment application by a woman candidate Anita, who was denied an opportunity to enrol at the NDA and had to "give up her aspirations to join the Armed Forces.".The plea by Kush Kalra filed through Advocate-on-Record Mohit Paul states that denial of opportunity to women candidates to enrol at the NDA is violative of Articles 14, 15, 16 and 19 of the Constitution..The petition was filed in light of the directions issued by the Supreme Court with respect to extension of Permanent Commission to Short Service Commissioned women officers of the Indian Army.."After the passing of the judgment in the matter of Secretary, Ministry of Defence v. Babita Puniya and Ors. (supra) by this Hon'ble Court, Permanent Commission has been extended to the Women Officers of the Army. However, there is still no mode of entry available to female candidates to join the Armed Forces as Permanent Commission Officers. In the present state of affairs, female candidates have to apply through the appropriate mode of entry into the Armed Forces as a Short Service Commissioned Officer and after serving for a certain period of time, have the option to opt for Permanent Commission. The categorical exclusion of women to train at the National Defence Academy and get commissioned into the Armed Forces of the Country as Permanent Commissioned Officers solely on the basis of their sex is a denial of the Fundamental Right to Practice any Profession and it is not justifiable within the contours of the Indian Constitution.".As a result of this system, eligible and willing female candidates are not allowed to choose Armed Forces as a profession after completing 10+2 level education."Eligible and willing female candidates being denied the opportunity of entry to the National Defence Academy on the basis of their sex and thereby systematically and categorically excluding eligible female candidates the opportunity to train at the premier joint training institute of the Indian Armed Forces which, at a later point of time, becomes a hurdle in the career advancement opportunities for Female Officers in the Armed Forces," says the plea..The petition was argued by advocate Chinmoy Pradip Sharma.