Archana Das v. The State Of West Bengal And ORS.

25.07.2025 (D/L-66) Ct.-17 SK

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION W.P.A. 9845 of 2025 Archana Das -Vs- The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Krishna Pada Santra, .... for the Petitioner.

Affidavit-of-service filed by the learned advocate for the petitioner be kept with the record.

In spite of service, none appears on behalf of the State-respondents.

The petitioner was an approved Library Assistant of a Library under the Department of Mass Education Extension & Library Services.

On attaining the age of superannuation she retired from her said service on November 30, 2019.

The first pension payment order of the petitioner was issued on September 09, 2021.

Under the ROPA Rules, 2019, there was revision of the pension, gratuity and commutation of the pensioners/family pensioners vide Memorandum of the Department of Mass Education Extension & Library Services, Government of West Bengal bearing No. 471/MEE/Sectt/Estt/EM/O/Estt/I'O'-15/2020 dated September 16, 2020 and the revised pension payment order of the petitioner under ROPA, 2019 was issued on June 20, 2022 in terms thereof, the petitioner has received the arrear pension and gratuity on June 21, 2022.

The petitioner in the instant writ petition is claiming that she is entitled to interest for the delayed payment of the said gratuity and arrear pension and is praying issuance of writ of

mandamus commanding the Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance and the concerned Treasury Officer, the respondents herein, to pay such interest.

It is now well settled that the petitioner is entitled to the interest, as prayed for.

The aforementioned respondents are, therefore directed to pay interest on the revised gratuity and revised arrear pension @ 8% per annum from the date of notification of the aforesaid Government order i.e. September 16, 2020 till the date of payment of revised gratuity and revised arrear pension in terms of the said revised Pension payment order.

The payment, as aforesaid, shall be made within a period of twelve weeks from the date of communication of this order, in default, the said arrears amount shall fetch an additional interest of 2% per annum.

W.P.A. 9845 of 2025 stands disposed of with the above directions. There shall be no order as to costs.

Urgent photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties subject to compliance with all requisite formalities.

(Biswajit Basu, J.)