One force, one rule, rank-based retirement of Coast Guard unconstitutional: HC

Delhi High Court has given an important decision related to retirement age in the Indian Coast Guard. The court clearly said that it is not right to decide the retirement age differently just by changing the rank in the same force. The High Court has canceled this arrangement, calling it unconstitutional.

what was the matter
Under a rule made in the Coast Guard since 1986, the retirement age was also fixed differently for officers of different ranks. Meaning, the service period of people wearing the same uniform changed according to their rank. Many officials had challenged this rule. He said that such a system is neither logical nor treats everyone equally.

what did the high court say
The bench of Justice C Hari Shankar and Justice Om Prakash Shukla gave its decision after hearing all the petitions together. The court clearly said that keeping a different retirement age on the basis of rank is against the spirit of the Constitution.

According to the court, if all the officers take the same training, do the same work and are part of the same force, then it is not right to vary their retirement age just by changing the rank. Neither is there any strong reason for this nor does this system fit in with the right to equality.

Which rule was removed?
The court has canceled Rules 20(1) and 20(2) of the Coast Guard (General) Rules 1986. These were the provisions in which there was a provision to fix the age on the basis of rank. Many officials had raised objections to these rules and now the court has found them correct.

What will be the impact of the decision?
Now the basis of rank for determining the retirement age in the Coast Guard has ended. In the coming time, there will be a uniform system for determining the retirement age or the government will prepare a new rule on this.

This decision has also brought relief to those officers who felt that their service period was getting reduced due to their rank.