Delhi High Court seeks response from Central government on plea against exclusion of male nurses from military

The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to the Central government on a petition filed by the Indian Professional Nurses Association, challenging certain sections of the Military Nursing Service Ordinance, 1943 and the Military Nursing Service (India) Rules, 1944 , on grounds that both provide only for appointment of female nurses in the Indian military [Indian Professional Nurses Association v. Union of India]. .A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Sachin Datta asked the Central government to respond to the petition within six weeks and posted the case for further hearing on July 28. "Issue notice. Reply to be filed within six weeks. Rejoinder before the next date. List for further hearing on July 28," the Court said.During the course of the hearing, the Court also clarified that it was only dealing with the challenge to the ordinance which restricts employment in the Indian military to only female nurses..Appearing on behalf of the petitioners, advocate Amit George submitted that the ordinance in question completely eliminates males from appointment to the Indian military as nurses and provides only for the appointment of women. The petition also stated that the Indian Professional Nurses Association was seeking a recourse against the patently discriminatory and illegal treatment being meted out to the male nurses in India by the unconstitutional and illegal practice of having a military nursing service consisting of only female nurses.The plea also contended that while the matter was still pending before this Court, a new job advertisement for 'female candidates only', who have registered and are appearing for NEET (UG), 2022 for admission to the four years BSc Nursing Course, was put out at the Colleges of Nursing of Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) It was submitted that the said advertisement constitutes a gender violation and is violative of Articles 14, 15, 19 (1) (g) and 21.It was also mentioned that the last date for making the applications in the advertisement was stated as May 31, 2022 and that it is manifestly impermissible for the respondents to perpetuate the illegal and abhorrent gender discrimination practice while the matter was still pending adjudication before the Court..Advocates Amit George and Rishabh Dheer represented the Indian Professional Nurses Association. Advocate Manish Mohan appeared for the Union of India..[COVID-19] “Doctors, Nurses play a vital role; it is time we express gratitude:” What the Supreme Court said on medical professionals