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Calcutta High CourtWPA/6976/2021disposed

Md. Golabdi v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

2021-03-19Hon'Ble Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj2 pages

19.03.2021 adeb Sl. 192 Ct. 15 W.P.A. 6976 of 2021 Md. Golabdi Vs.

The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Asif Iwbal ........for the Petitioner Ms. Rupsha Chakraborty ...for the State Affidavit-of-service filed in Court today is kept with the record.

The petitioner was a Head Teacher of a Primary School, who retired from service on 30.01.2007. The petitioner had completed all pension-related formalities. The first pension payment order was issued on 12.01.2007. However, the concerned authorities delayed and released the revised arrear pension amount on 09.11.2012 and revised gratuity amount on 30.03.2013. The petitioner herein seeks interest to be paid on the arrear pension amount for the interim period of delay in receipt of the arrear pension amount.

There is a considerable delay in filing of the writ petition, which the petitioner seeks to justify by stating that there is no statutory period of limitation and neither parties have suffered due to this delay. It is the submission of the petitioner that accordingly the petition should be allowed.

The petitioner relies upon an order in W.P. 17557 (W) of 2017 ( Narayan Chandra Saha Vs. State of West Bengal & Ors.) wherein a co-ordinate bench had relied upon the Supreme Court judgement in the case of Union of

India Vs. Tarsem Singh, reported in (2008) 8 S.C.C. 648 on the issue of limitation relating to payment or re-fixation of pay or pension wherein the Apex Court had held that relief may be granted in spite of delay as it does not affect the rights of the third party.

In view of the above and after hearing the learned Counsel for the petitioner, I direct the Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance, Government of West Bengal as also the concerned Treasury Officer to pay interest to the petitioner @ 8% per annum on the arrear pension amount calculated from 01.02.2007 till the date of payment. Such payment is to be made within a period of eight weeks from the date of communication of this order. The writ petition is disposed of, however, no order as to costs.

Since no affidavit is called for, the allegations made in the writ petition are deemed to have been denied. Urgent photostat certified website copy of this order, if applied for, be given to the parties on urgent basis. (Rajarshi Bharadwaj, J.)