Bithika Chowdhury v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

Ct. 05 Item No. 183 24.09.2021 Sayandeep WPA 8275 OF 2021 (VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE) Bithika Chowdhury Vs.

The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Sandip Ghosh ..............for the petitioner The husband of the writ petitioner is a retired primary teacher, who superannuated on 31st March, 2008. After superannuation of the husband of the writ petitioner, first Pension Payment Order issued on 19th March, 2008 and as per the first Pension Payment Order disbursement of retiral benefit was made on 10th July, 2008. Subsequently, due to revision of pay as per ROPA 2009 revised Pension Payment Order was issued in the year 2012 and disbursement as per revised Pension Payment Order was made on 6th November, 2012. Meanwhile, husband of the writ petitioner died on 15th June, 2018. The writ petitioner, being widow of deceased retired teacher claims interest on delayed payment of gratuity as per revised Pension Payment Order.

The entitlement of the writ petitioner to interest on delayed payment of gratuity due to superannuation of husband of the writ petitioner has

already been decided in the writ petition being WP 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 mater 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 WP 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 revised gratuity as per revised Pension Paytment Order from 19th May, 2009 till the date of actual disbursement of the revised gratuity amount in favour of the deceased

husband of the writ petitioner, 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 this order, if applied for, is to be given to the parties upon compliance with the necessary formalities.

(Saugata Bhattacharyya, J.)