In a recent court decision, the Delhi High Court ruled that officers of the Indian Coast Guard, who retired at 57, can now continue working until they turn 60. Here's a breakdown of what happened.
The case was brought by Atul Chandrakant Dandekar and others, who wanted to extend their service to 60 years. They argued that they should be allowed to work longer, just like in a previous case, Cheeli J Ratnam v. Union of India.
On December 22, 2025, Judges C. Hari Shankar and Om Prakash Shukla agreed with Atul Chandrakant Dandekar and the other petitioners. They said that even though the officers had already retired, the previous decision still applied. This means the officers should be allowed to return to their jobs.
"The petitioners are directed to be reinstated in service," said the decision.
However, there's a condition. The officers must first return any retirement money they received. Mr. Himanshu Gautam, the lawyer for Atul Chandrakant Dandekar and the other petitioners, promised that his clients would pay back this money within eight weeks.
Once the officers return the money, they can continue their service until they reach 60. They'll also receive all the benefits that come with being back at work.
This decision is a big win for Atul Chandrakant Dandekar and the other petitioners and sets an example for other similar cases. It's a reminder that sometimes, even after retirement, there might still be a chance to go back to work.
