Barnali Banerjee v. The Durgapur Projects Ltd. ORS

07.02.2023 IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA DL-183 CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION (PP) APPELLATE SIDE Ct.21 WPA 1442 of 2023 Barnali Banerjee Vs.

The Durgapur Projects Limited & Ors.

Mr. Tathagata Deb ....for the petitioner.

Mr. S. S. Koley ....for DPL.

Affidavit of service filed in Court today be retained with the records.

The writ petitioner's husband was a permanent employee of the Durgapur Projects Limited (in short 'DPL'), which is a Government of West Bengal enterprise. The petitioner's husband superannuated from January 31, 2020 and died on April 27, 2021. The gratuity dues of the writ petitioner's deceased husband aggregating Rs.8,36,184/- was paid to his wife/petitioner on August 23, 2021. Neither quantum of gratuity nor the date of payment is in dispute.

Mr. Deb, learned Counsel, appearing on behalf of the writ petitioner prays for interest on gratuity payable to the writ petitioner from February 1, 2020 (the date succeeding the date of retirement) till

August 23, 2021 (the date on which the gratuity dues were actually paid).

The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the writ petitioner also prays for earned leave of 298.5 days of her deceased husband, which has not been paid till date. He further prays for interest on the earned leave, due and payable to the writ petitioner. The number of days of earned leave, due and payable to the petitioner is not in dispute.

The issue has been squarely settled by various Judgements passed by a Co-ordinate Bench of this Hon'ble Court.

Relying on the judgements on the same issue and considering the facts of the case it is directed that the writ petitioner is entitled to get interest on the delayed payment of gratuity dues of her deceased husband from February 1, 2020 till August 23, 2021 at the rate of 6% per annum.

The writ petitioner is also entitled to earned leave of 298.5 days of her deceased husband and interest thereon @ 6% per annum from February 1, 2020 till the date on which the actual payment is made.

The respondent authority/DPL is directed to pay the aforesaid payment within six months from date.

In the event, the said amount is not disbursed within the stipulated period, the rate of interest will stand enhanced to 10% per annum being the statutory rate under the payment of Gratuity Act, 1972.

With the directions aforesaid, the writ petition, being WPA 1442 of 2023, is disposed of.

Since no affidavits have been called for in the writ petition, the allegations contained therein be deemed not to have been admitted by the respondents.

All parties shall act on the server copies of this order duly downloaded from the official website of this Hon'ble Court.

Urgent photostat certified copies of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties upon compliance of all necessary formalities.

(Lapita Banerji, J.)