Pronati Roy v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

W.P.A. 8120 of 2021 (Through Video Conference) rkd 10.09.2021 Ct.05 Pronati Roy -vsThe State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Sandip Ghosh, Ms. Sabita Khutia (Bhunia), ....for the petitioner.

Mr. Arindam Chattopadhyay, Ms. Lipika Chatterjee ....for the State.

Affidavit-of-service filed in Court is kept with the record.

The writ petitioner's husband was a teacher in a Government aided school who died in harness on 15th August, 1997. Due to death of the husband of the writ petitioner in harness terminal benefits were released in favour of the writ petitioner by issuing Pension Payment Order dated 19th March, 2002. Pursuant to such Pension Payment Order disbursement was made on 29th June, 2002. There was a delay in releasing death gratuity in favour of the writ petitioner. Writ petitioner claims interest on delayed payment of death gratuity.

The entitlement of the writ petitioner to interest on delayed payment of gratuity due to superannuation of her husband has already been decided in the writ petition being W.P.No.4600(W) of

2019 (Rabindra Kumar Bhattacharjee vs State of West Bengal and Ors.) wherein upon placing reliance on judgment of the Apex Court in the case of Union of India vs. Tarsem Singh, reported in (2008) 8 SCC 648 on condoning delay in approaching the Court for payment of interest on gratuity the said writ petition was allowed by extending the benefit on delayed payment of gratuity upon due consideration of the fact that there is no accrual of third party interest and matter relates to payment of retiral dues.

Taking note of the observations made by the coordinate Bench in the order dated 17th April, 2019 passed in W.P. No. 4600(W) of 2019 (Rabindra Kumar Bhattacharjee vs. State of West Bengal and Ors.) this Court finds it apposite to grant interest on gratuity to the writ petitioner due to delay in releasing the said amount.

Accordingly, the Director of Pension Provident Fund and Group Insurance and the concerned Treasury Officer are directed to pay interest at the rate of Rs.8% per annum to the writ petitioner on delayed payment of gratuity from the date following the date of death of the husband of the writ petitioner till the date of actual disbursement of the gratuity amount, within a period of eight weeks from the date of communication of this order.

Since no affidavit is called for, the allegations contained in the writ petition are deemed not to have been admitted.

With the above observation, the writ petition stands disposed of.

There shall be no order as to costs.

Urgent photostat certified copy of the order, if applied for, be given to the parties, upon usual undertakings.

(Saugata Bhattacharyya, J.)