Why Not Male Nurses in Army: Delhi High Court Questions Gender Bias

The Delhi High Court has raised questions regarding the prohibition of men from being employed as nurses in the Indian Army while hearing a plea challenging the Military Nursing Service Ordinance 1943 and the Military Nursing Service (India) Rules 1944. A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula questioned the logic behind this practice, emphasizing that if women can be posted at challenging locations like Siachen, men should also be allowed in nursing roles.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Central government, mentioned that army practices are rooted in long-standing traditions. However, the bench pointed out the recent legislation promoting women's empowerment and asked why there's still a gender-based restriction for nursing roles. They also highlighted the Supreme Court's decisions supporting gender equality and the admission of women to the National Defence Academy.

Advocate Amit George, representing the petitioners, of the Indian Professional Nurses Association, argued that the prohibition is based on outdated views of nursing being exclusively a female profession, a notion no longer valid in modern healthcare.

The High Court acknowledged the importance of the issue and scheduled further consideration for November. The petitioners had initially challenged the rules in 2018, arguing that the discrimination against men in the ordinance and rules contradicts the constitutional principle of gender equality and is therefore unconstitutional and arbitrary.

Author: Anushka Taraniya

News Writer, MIT ADT University