Sipra Rani Chowdhury v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

23.02.2024 Sl. No. 109 ap W.P.A. 3122 of 2024 Sipra Rani Chowdhury -VsThe State of West Bengal & Ors.

Ms. Pritikana Gantait.

... ... for the petitioner Md. Manuwar Ali, Mrs. Supriya Majumder.

...for the State.

Affidavit of service filed in court today is kept with the record.

The learned Advocate for the petitioner submits that the petitioner was an Assistant Teacher of a Primary School and retired from service on 31.12.2019. Pension Payment Order was issued in favour of the petitioner on 06.09.2021 and the gratuity amount of the petitioner was released on 14.09.2021.

Although the petitioner was entitled to payment of pensionary benefit from the next date of his retirement, the same was not paid. By presenting this writ petition, the petitioner prays for an order on the respondents to award interest on delayed payment of gratuity. I have heard the learned Advocate for the petitioner and have also considered the orders passed by different Hon'ble Judges on the writ petitions involving similar issues.

In view thereof, this writ petition stands disposed of with a direction upon the respondents and particularly the concerned Treasury Officer to pay interest to the

petitioner on gratuity amount @ 9% per annum from the next date of retirement of the petitioner till the date of actual payment within 16 weeks from the date of service of an authenticated copy of this order failing which, additional interest @ 2% per annum shall be payable to the petitioner.

There will be no order as to costs.

Urgent photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be given to the parties, on priority basis. (Rajasekhar Mantha, J.)