The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the government’s request to defer women’s participation in National Defence Academy (NDA) exam by one year. Ruling against the plea, the apex court said that the proposal gave women hope and that hope cannot be denied anymore, PTI reported.

The “no exam today, exam tomorrow” approach would go against the aspirations of young women who want to take active participation in India’s defence system, the court said.

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The statements came at the backdrop of the Centre’s plea asking the court to defer women involvement in the examination for another year to develop a new system.

The Centre had told the top court that a notification allowing women candidates to appear for the NDA entrance exam will be out by May next year. 

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, who is representing the government also informed the court that the process of establishing “appropriate” medical and physical fitness standards, and building “required infrastructure” is underway but the administration needs more time.

However, the court denied permission and asked the government to put the notification out for this attempt only, which is scheduled to be held on November 14.

“We appreciate your problems. I’m sure you people are capable of finding solutions. Let us see the results. The planning can go on…It is difficult for us to accept this submission from the Centre in view of the aspirations of the candidates willing to take the exam,” PTI quoted the top court as saying.

“Armed services have dealt with very difficult situations. To deal with emergencies is a part of their training. We are sure that they will be able to come at par with this “emergency too”. We would thus not like to vacate the order effectively passed by us,” the bench also comprising Justice B R Gavai further added.

The petition, opposing the government’s plea to postpone women’s participation in the NDA exams by another attempt, was filed by senior advocate Chinmoy Pradip Sharma on behalf of the petitioner Kush Kalra. The plea said that it cannot postpone the induction of women by one year.

The entrance exam for admission to the prestigious National Defence Academy is scheduled to be held on November 14, 2021.