NEW DELHI: Supreme Court Friday came to the rescue of a meritorious girl, who was denied admission to a Sainik School in Uttarakhand on the ground that certain deformities would disqualify her from joining National Defence Academy, and an OBC woman who was not made a constable because she had a minor squint.Prakriti Maulekhi scored 260 out of 300 in the entrance exam for admission to Sainik School, Nainital. On medical examination, she was declared unfit on account of Bilateral Brachydactyly of the fourth toes. Sainik Schools were set up in 1961 with the aim of preparing boys academically, physically and mentally to be fit for NDA. Two years after she petitioned the HC, the court by an interim order directed Sainik School to admit her into Class VI. Appearing for Union govt, additional solicitor general Archana Pathak Dave said the girl could get admitted to Class IX next year.A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said it is not that all students who join Sainik Schools end up at NDA. It said, “It appears that the institutions run by the Army still follow the archaic norms. Look at this unfortunate scenario – the Army is rejecting a meritorious girl merely because she suffers from minor deformities. The govt should revisit regulations governing admission to Sainik Schools and amend them.” The bench said, “You admit her in Class VI and give promotion to Class IX next year.” Also, a woman from the OBC community – selected as a constable – was denied employment for having a squint. The bench of Justices Kant and Bagchi directed UP govt to employ her as a constable.