Delhi HC Strikes Down Unequal Retirement Age Rule for Coast Guard Officers

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The Delhi High Court has ruled that Indian Coast Guard officers must retire at the age of 60, striking down a rule that allowed officers below the rank of commandant to retire earlier. The court found the rule to be unconstitutional, citing the need for equal treatment under the law. The Coast Guard's earlier rule, which allowed officers above the rank of commandant to retire at 60 and those below at 57, was deemed discriminatory. The high court's decision comes after a batch of petitions from retired Coast Guard officers who challenged the rule. The court noted that a similar case involving other paramilitary forces had previously been decided in favor of equal retirement ages. The Central government had argued that the Coast Guard required a 'young age profile' to man its afloat and aviation platforms, but the court disagreed, citing the need for uniformity in retirement ages across all ranks. The ruling is set to impact the careers of thousands of Coast Guard officers.