India: HC upholds govt's decision not to admit boys in nursing course

Article here. Excerpt:

'CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government's decision not to admit any male candidate for the diploma course in nursing received the judicial nod on Monday, with the Madras high court dismissing a writ petition challenging the new norms.

The government, which was allotting 10 per cent of the available seats to male candidates till 2007-08, decided to make the diploma an all-girl course from 2008-09 following the introduction of a new syllabus by the Indian Nursing Council.

U Ashad Ali, whose application for admission was rejected by the health and family welfare department in November 2008, challenged the decision on the ground that discrimination on sex grounds was violative of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. He said male nursing assistants were very much needed in various hospitals.

The government, however, submitted that male nurses were required only in a few places like jail, ortho department, mental health hspitals and operation theatres. Government hospitals have enough male nurses, who would be in service till 2045, it said.'