Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Supreme Court Gives Coast Guard Two Weeks on Commission
Priyanka Tyagi is a woman officer in the Indian Coast Guard.
She wants to continue serving permanently instead of leaving after her short-service period.
She has served for more than 14 years and has flown many maritime patrol missions.
Her lawyer says she has flown about 4,500 hours and helped save more than 300 people at sea.
The Coast Guard had not granted her a permanent commission.
The Supreme Court said the Coast Guard’s rules looked unclear and unfair.
The court gave the Coast Guard two weeks to make a decision.
If it does not grant her commission, the court said it may order her absorption into the force.
The Supreme Court gave the Indian Coast Guard two weeks to decide whether to grant permanent commission to officer Priyanka Tyagi.
The court called the Coast Guard’s permanent-commission policy “vague” and “arbitrary.”
Tyagi, who has served more than 14 years, was previously denied permanent commission and ordered to leave service.
Her lawyer said she had about 4,500 Dornier flight hours and had helped save more than 300 lives at sea.
The Coast Guard argued that infrastructure and facilities for women officers remain limited, but the court rejected hyper-technical objections.
- Who
- Indian Coast Guard officer Priyanka Tyagi, the Indian Coast Guard, and a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant.
- What
- The Supreme Court gave the Coast Guard two weeks to decide on Tyagi’s request for permanent commission and warned it could order her absorption.
- When
- The order was issued on Wednesday, with the case posted for hearing after two weeks.
- Where
- The case was heard in the Supreme Court of India; Tyagi took charge at her unit in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- Why
- Tyagi challenged the denial of permanent commission and her proposed release from service after more than 14 years of duty.
Court and Tyagi’s Position
Indian Coast Guard’s Position
Permanent commission eligibility
Court and Tyagi’s Position
The court questioned why women officers could not receive permanent commissions when such commissions were available to male officers. Tyagi’s lawyer said she had been recommended by superiors and had a strong service record.
Indian Coast Guard’s Position
The Coast Guard argued that its history, operational requirements, and limitations in facilities for women officers had to be considered before granting permanent commissions.
Nature of the policy
Court and Tyagi’s Position
The Supreme Court described the Coast Guard’s policy as vague and apparently arbitrary, warning that hyper-technical objections would not be accepted.
Indian Coast Guard’s Position
The Attorney General said the denial was not arbitrary or gender-insensitive and that infrastructure had to be developed around several operational factors.
Next step
Court and Tyagi’s Position
The court said it could order Tyagi’s absorption if the Coast Guard did not make a decision within two weeks.
Indian Coast Guard’s Position
The Coast Guard was asked to reconsider the matter and said modern ships and related facilities were being developed for women officers.
- Officer
- Priyanka Tyagi, a Short Service Appointee in the Indian Coast Guard
- Service record
- More than 14 years of service
- Flight experience
- About 4,500 hours on Dornier aircraft, according to her lawyer
- Rescue record
- Her lawyer said she had helped save more than 300 lives at sea
- Court deadline
- The Indian Coast Guard was given two weeks to decide
- Previous court action
- In 2024, the Supreme Court directed the Coast Guard to reinstate Tyagi
- Coast Guard position
- The force cited limited infrastructure and facilities for women officers