Aparna Karmakar v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

21.04.2026 Ct. No.24 Sl. No.58 akd W. P. A. 4907 of 2026 [Aparna Karmakar -Vs- The State of West Bengal & Ors.] Ms. Debjani Sahu ... ... for the petitioner Mr. Chittaranjan Ghosh ... ... for the State 1.

Affidavit-of-service filed in Court today is taken on record.

2.

The husband of the petitioner was a teacher in a secondary school who died-in-harness on August 27, 2006. 3.

The State Government published the Government Order No. 749-SE(L)/55-56/13 (Pt. V) on June 13, 2014 pursuant to which the teachers had the option to join GPF scheme upon refund of the employer's share of provident fund. 4.

As the husband of the petitioner expired prior to the publication of the said State Government Order, accordingly, he could not avail the said benefit. The petitioner, being widow, intends to avail the benefit of the aforesaid Government Order. 5.

The Court in similar circumstances permitted the widows of the deceased teachers to exercise option in terms of the said Government Order.

6.

Reliance has been placed on the order dated March 6, 2024 by a coordinate Bench in WPA No. 3480 of 2024 (Manjushri Mondal vs. The State of West Bengal & Ors.). 7.

Reliance has also been placed on the order passed by the Hon'ble Division Bench on August 24, 2023 in FMA No. 620 of 2018 with IA No. CAN 1 of 2017 (old CAN 7452 of 2017) (State of West Bengal & Ors. vs. Sefali Jana & Ors.).

8.

In line with above decisions the instant writ petition stand disposed of by directing the District Inspector of Schools (SE), Paschim Bardhaman to process the application filed by the petitioner as expeditiously as possible, preferably by June 15, 2026.

9.

The amount of money that is to be refunded by the petitioner shall be calculated and communicated to the petitioner within a period of four weeks from the date of communication of this order by the petitioner. 10.

Upon the petitioner complying with all formalities including refund of deposit of employer's share of provident fund along with interest and additional interest, fresh Pension Payment Order shall be released to the petitioner within two months from the date of issuance of the Pension Payment Order.

11.

With the afore-stated directions, the writ petition is disposed of.

12.

There shall be no order as to costs.

13.

Urgent Photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be given to the parties on usual undertaking. (Reetobroto Kumar Mitra, J.)