Female nurses only? Plea in Delhi HC challenges AIIMS, DU provisions

The Delhi High Court today issued notice on and sought replies from the Centre and Delhi government on a plea against provisions allowing only females to apply for admission to nursing courses in Delhi University (DU), AIl India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGIPS).

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Mamohan and Justice Mini Pushkarna noted that a similar petition was filed in respect of nursing courses in the Indian Army as well a few days back, and asked for replies within 4 weeks.

The plea was filed by the NGO 'Indian Professional Nurses Association' and argued by Advocate Robin Raju.

It was argued that in view of the shortage of nurses in the country, persons of all genders should be permitted to apply to the course.

The classification created only entitles female candidates to a specific B.Sc. (H) Nursing course on the basis of a rule that does not consider the present day realities. The rule completely discards the fact that there is a dearth of nursing professionals in the country and hence prohibiting non-female candidates from getting admission to B.Sc (H) Nursing course is also against the interest of the public at large, the petition states.

Making a case for gender neutrality in the nursing profession, the petitioner said that they seek to highlight that even today male and third gender candidates are facing discrimination.

The petition states that not affording all genders the opportunity to study B.Sc (H) nursing courses  affiliated to the said universities is arbitrary, unfair and violative of the principle of equality enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution of India.

The matter would be heard next on February 19.