Saroj Pandey v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

S/L 45 06.03.2025 Court No.19 SD

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION WPA 2883 of 2025 Saroj Pandey Vs.

The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Ms. Amrita Maji ... for the Petitioner.

Affidavit of service filed by the learned advocate for the petitioner be kept with the record.

In spite of service, none appears on behalf of the State-respondent.

The husband of the petitioner was an approved Head Teacher of a primary school who died-in-harness on December 10, 2021.

The Pension Payment Order of the concerned teacher was issued on August 1, 2022 in pursuance whereof the petitioner received the gratuity and arrear family pension on September 1, 2022.

In the instant writ petition the prayer of the petitioner is a writ of mandamus be issued commanding the respondents to pay interest on the said amount of gratuity and arrear family pension for the delayed payment.

It is now well settled that the petitioner is entitled to the interest, as prayed for.

The respondents, the concerned Treasury Officer in particular are, therefore, directed to pay interest @ 8% per annum on the arrear amount of pension and gratuity

from the date of death of the employee concerned till the date of such payment.

The payment as aforesaid shall be made within the period of eight weeks from the date of communication of this order, in default, the said arrear amount shall fetch an additional interest of 2% per annum.

WPA 2883 of 2025 stands disposed of with the above directions without any order as to costs. Urgent photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties subject to compliance with all requisite formalities.

(Biswajit Basu, J.)