Bibi Firoja v. The State Of West Bengal And ORS.

06.03.2024 (D/L-136) Ct.-18 (Susanta)

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION W.P.A. 4230 of 2025 Bibi Firoja -Vs- The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Ms. Ina Bhattacharyya, Mr. Ratul Ghosal, .... 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-respondents.

The husband of the petitioner was an approved Head Teacher of a Primary School who retired from his service on superannuation on October 31, 2020 and died on April 13, 2024. The Pension Payment Order of the employee concerned was issued on May 02, 2022 in pursuance whereof the husband of the petitioner received the gratuity and arrear pension on June 01, 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 arrear pension and gratuity 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 retirement 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.

W.P.A. 4230 of 2025 stands disposed of with the above directions. There shall be no 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.)