Saraswati Mahata v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

28.01.2022 d.p.

In The High Court At Calcutta Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side (Via Video Conference) W.P.A. 8555 of 2021 Saraswati Mahata -versus The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Biswajit Mal.

...For the Petitioner.

Ms. Tapati Samanta.

...For the State.

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

The petitioner's husband was a Head Teacher and retired from service on 31.03.2008. He died on 24.11.2019. The first pension payment order was issued on 27.03.2008 and the arrear pension was disbursed on 30.06.2008. Under the ROPA Rules, 2009 there was revision of the pension and gratuity amount payable to the deceased teacher. The revised pension payment order was issued on 08.05.2013 and the arrear revised pension was disbursed on 11.06.2013 in terms of ROPA 2009. The petitioner claims interest on delayed payment of revised arrear pension.

I have heard learned counsel for the parties and considered the orders passed by this court in similar facts.

It is settled law that the right of a retired employee to get his retiral dues as and when the same becomes due and payable. If payment of the retiral dues is

delayed the retired employee is surely entitled to get some interest for such delayed payment.

In the present case, it was the bounden duty of the State to disburse the pension and revised pension amount on the due date. If it has failed to do so and has released such amount after unexplained delay, it is obliged to pay interest to the retired employee. In view of the aforesaid, I direct the concerned Treasury Officer to pay interest to the heirs of the deceased teacher at the rate of 7% per annum on the revised arrear pension calculated on and from the due date till the date of actual payment.

Such payment is to be made within eight weeks from the date of communication of the certified copy of this order to the concerned authorities.

The concerned respondent authority is directed to take appropriate steps in accordance with law against the erring officer(s) for whose fault there has been delay in releasing the retirement benefit to the petitioner. Since no affidavit in opposition has been invited, the allegations contained in the writ petition are deemed not be admitted.

The writ petition stands disposed of.

There will be no order as to costs.

Urgent photostat certified copy of this order be supplied to the parties, if applied for, as early as possible.

( Amrita Sinha, J.)