NEW DELHI (Gurpreet Singh) — The Supreme Court of India has called on the Union Government to modernize the service conditions and retirement ages of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), remarking that the administration cannot remain tethered to “British-era” criteria. A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant emphasized that the current regulations governing one of the country’s most “highly skilled” and robust forces require a contemporary reassessment to reflect the sophisticated nature of modern maritime security.
The top court’s observations came during a hearing of the Centre’s petition challenging a Delhi High Court order from November 2024. That ruling had quashed Rule 20 of the Coast Guard Rules, 1986, which stipulated that officers in the rank of Commandant and below retire at 57, while those above retire at 60. The High Court had advocated for a uniform retirement age of 60 across all ranks. While the Supreme Court has stayed the High Court’s verdict for the time being, it expressed a clear desire for a structural overhaul of these “static and conservative” policies.
Representing the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave argued that the High Court erred in comparing the Coast Guard to central paramilitary forces like the CRPF or ITBP. She maintained that the ICG, which falls under the Ministry of Defence, faces harsh oceanic conditions similar to the Indian Navy, necessitating a younger workforce for operational readiness. However, the Bench countered that the value of seasoned experience in a sophisticated force is paramount and should not be overlooked by outdated bureaucratic patterns.
The Supreme Court has now directed the Centre to consider establishing an expert committee to revisit various service conditions, including recruitment age and retirement benchmarks. The government is expected to submit a report on this reassessment before the next scheduled hearing on April 13. By advocating for this expert panel, the court aims to ensure that the personnel guarding India’s vast coastline are governed by rules that align with 21st-century realities rather than historical relics.
