Amrita Gopal Mandal v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

19.05.2022 d.p.

In The High Court At Calcutta Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side W.P.A. 7761 of 2022 Amrita Gopal Mandal -versus The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Ziaul Haque, Mr. Khairul Alam.

...For the State.

None appears on behalf of the petitioner at the time of call.

The petitioner was a Primary School Assistant Teacher. He retired from service on 31.03.2012. The Pension Payment Order was issued in favour of the petitioner on 13.06.2013 and the petitioner received the arrear pension amount on 03.08.2013.

The petitioner prays for payment of interest on account of delayed payment of his retiral dues. In the present case, it is noticed that the petitioner has approached this Court long after the Pension Payment Order was issued and payment made in accordance with the same.

The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Union of India -vsTarsem Singh reported in (2008) 8 SCC 648 clearly laid down that in so far as consequential relief of recovery of arrear for a past period is concerned the relief shall be

restricted only to a period of three years prior to the filing of the writ petition or from the date of demand made by the petitioner.

In the instant case the petitioner did not raise any demand before the respondents praying for release of interest on account of delay in making payment. The petitioner directly approached this Court praying for interest, that too, long after the PPO was issued. The fact that the petitioner did not raise any objection with regard to delayed payment of his terminal benefits for nearly sixteen years implies that the petitioner waived his right to claim interest. In view of the above, the Court is not inclined to exercise jurisdiction in the matter and grant any relief in favour of the petitioner.

The writ petition is dismissed.

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

( Amrita Sinha, J.)