New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has cleared two more years of service for time scale Navy Captains, increasing their retirement age from the existing 54 years to 56 years.
The order issued to the Chief of Naval Staff, dated October 8, states: “In terms of the judgment of Hon’ble AFT (PB) passed in OA 324/2014 (Capt C S Panda vs Union of India & Ors) on 18.11.2014 and related judgments regarding increase in age of superannuation for Captain (time scale) from 54 to 56 years (57 years for education branch) in Indian Navy, it has been decided that all captain (time scale) officers… who are due for superannuation on attaining the age of 54 years are to be allowed to continue in service till they attain the age of 56 years (57 years for education branch).”
As reported by The Indian Express earlier, time scale Captains — officers who have attained the rank by virtue of completing 26 years in service — had approached the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) seeking two more years of service. This quashes the existing rule that differentiates between select grade Captains (those who are promoted to the rank), who are allowed to serve till they are 56, and their time scale counterparts.