The Centre has told Delhi High Court that women will now be able to apply to certain branches of the Indian Navy University. The executive general service (X) cadre of the branch, IT, and the engineering and electrical branch are now recruiting female candidates via the Indian Navy University Entry Scheme, the high court was informed. A panel of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad disposed of a petition that asked for the admission of female candidates to some branches of the Indian Navy University where female entrance was previously prohibited after taking note of the Centre's arguments.
In the PIL, filed by attorney Kush Kalra, institutional discrimination by the government was asserted, and the administration was ordered to detail the actions it had taken to allow female applicants to enter on an equal footing with male candidates.
The Centre's Additional Solicitor General, Chetan Sharma, during the hearing, claimed that a PIL filed on the topic of service was not maintainable.
He asserted that the issue raised in the petition, however, had already been resolved by allowing female applicants to participate in the Executive Branch General Service (x) Cadre, IT, and Technical Branch Engineering and Electrical Branch Entry Schemes under the Indian Navy University Entry Scheme.
A notice inviting applications for Short Service Commission Officers in Information Technology (Executive Branch) beginning in January 2023 and a notice inviting applications for Short Service Commission Officers for a variety of entries, including General Service (Executive) GS (X) beginning in June 2023, were also brought to the court's attention by the law officer.
According to his argument, the Indian Navy is now hiring female candidates for both of the branches specified in the petition.
The petitioner has not contested the constitutionality of Section 9(2) of the Indian Navy Act, according to the ASG. The Union of India is authorised to make notifications for the entry of female candidates into the India Navy by the same statutory clause, though.
No woman shall be eligible for appointment for enlistment in the Indian Navy or the Indian Naval Reserve Forces except in such department, branch, or other body forming part thereof or attached thereto and subject to such conditions as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this regard. This is stated in Section 9(2) of the Act.
The petitioner had asked for a directive allowing women to be hired under the Indian Navy University Entry Scheme for positions in IT, engineering, and electrical branch on an equal basis with males in the general service (X) cadre of the executive branch.
By arbitrarily denying women the right to serve in these branches but allowing them access as air traffic controllers and naval architects, the government was allegedly engaging in institutional discrimination.
