G.O. restricting nursing course to women upheld

The Madras High Court has upheld a government order issued in November last year and the consequential notification, by which selection to Diploma in Nursing course has been restricted to female candidates.

U. Ashad Ali sought a writ to call for the records relating to the G.O. and the notification, quash them and consider his candidature for admission to the course for 2008-09.

Justice K. Suguna said from the documents filed by the government, it was seen that the authorities had examined the matter in depth. Apart from this, as far as the course was concerned, it was associated with hospitals and patients. In other words, nursing services should meet the health needs of society most effectively. For that, whatever was essential had to be implemented.

The judge said if the services of male nurses were not needed, in her opinion, from the health point of view of public, the decision restricting the admission to female candidates had to be accepted. It was not disputed that already, sufficient number of male nurses were available.

The G.O of the Health and Family Welfare of November 27, 2008, and the notification of December 7 last year, which were under challenge, had to be upheld, the judge said, and dismissed the petition.