Constitution of the Coast Guard
Section 4 of the Coast Guard Act, 1978 deals with constitution of the Coast Guard. There shall be an armed force of the Union called the Coast Guard for ensuring the security of the maritime zones of India with a view to the protection of maritime and other national interests in such zones. The Act came into force on 19 Aug 1978.
(1) There shall be an armed force of the Union called the Coast Guard for ensuring the security of the maritime zones of India with a view to the protection of maritime and other national interests in such zones.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Coast Guard shall be constituted in such manner as may be prescribed and the conditions of service of the members of the Coast Guard shall be such as may be prescribed.
Section 4, The Coast Guard Act, 1978 (Act 30 of 1978).
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Director General, Coast Guard & Ors. v. M. Muruga Dhas & Ors.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Under Coast Guard Act s.4 the Coast Guard has the characteristics of military service; nevertheless ACR communication/upgradation directions (Dev Dutt principles) applied by the Single Judge were upheld and the intra-court appeal by Coast Guard authorities was dismissed. DATE VERIFIED Final Order 2025-02-25 (order-1.pdf).
On this section: s.4 — Constitution of the Coast Guard; military character and service/ACR discipline context
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Made under this section, and citing it
6 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 4
What have the courts held on Section 4 of the Coast Guard Act?
Director General, Coast Guard & Ors. v. M. Muruga Dhas & Ors. (25 Feb 2025) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: s.4 — Constitution of the Coast Guard; military character and service/ACR discipline context.
How do I find court cases under Section 4 of the Coast Guard Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Coast Guard Act 1978 4, section 4 Coast Guard Act 1978, section 4 of the Coast Guard Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Director General, Coast Guard & Ors. v. M. Muruga Dhas & Ors. (25 Feb 2025).
What should I read with Section 4 of the Coast Guard Act, and has it changed?
6 instruments name it without being made under it, most recently SRO 27 DATED 10 JUL 2015 (2015), then SRO 33 OF 2005 (2005).
When did Section 4 of the Coast Guard Act come into force?
Section 4 of the Coast Guard Act, cited as Coast Guard Act 1978 4, came into force on 19 Aug 1978, having been enacted on 18 Aug 1978. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 121. Powers and duties conferrable and imposable on members of the Coast Guard611 words
- 2. Definitions593 words
- 86. Presumption as to certain documents559 words
- 123. Power to make rules490 words
- 51. Period of limitation for trial of offences under the Act323 words
- 25. Desertion and aiding desertion280 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 20 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.