New Delhi:
In a major announcement for all central paramilitary forces, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday issued an order fixing the retirement age for all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) for all ranks at 60 years.
The order will be effective with immediate effect and will be applicable to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Border Security Force (BSF), the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), regular cadre of the Paramilitary component of the Assam Rifles (AR).
The Home Ministry order followed a Delhi High Court's January order in which it struck down rules prescribing different retirement ages for different ranks calling it ‘discriminatory and unconstitutional’ and directed the Central government to fix a uniform age of superannuation for all ranks.
According to the existing policy, all personnel in the Central Industrial Security Force and the Assam Rifles retire at the age of 60.
However, in CRPF, BSF, ITBP and SSB, the personnel from the ranks of constable to commandant retire at the age of 57, while those above them superannuate at the age of 60.
The Home Ministry order directed all the forces to "comply with the court order and amend provisions of rules."
These forces are deployed across the country to render a variety of internal security duties including border guarding, counterterrorism, anti-Naxal operations, and maintenance of law and order.
