Archana Datta v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

11.03.2024 Court No.13 Item No.257 AP WPA 15977 of 2022 Archana Datta Vs.

The State of West Bengal and Ors.

Mr. Anirban Chakraborty ... For the Petitioner.

Affidavit of service filed in Court today be kept with the record.

The instant writ petition has been preferred challenging the impugned denial of the respondents to pay interest for belated disbursement of the revised benefits of gratuity under the provisions of the Revision of Pay and Allowances Rules, 1998 (hereinafter referred to as the ROPA, 1998).

Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the husband of the petitioner retired from the post of Assistant Teacher of High School on 30.09.1996 and the first pension payment order was issued on 16.10.1998. Upon revision of pay under the provisions of ROPA, 1998 the pension payment order towards revised benefits was issued on 26.09.2001 and the benefits of revised arrear were actually disbursed in favour of the husband of the petitioner on 21.10.2004. The husband of the petitioner died on 25.03.2015.

Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that the issue of entitlement towards interest for belated disbursement of the benefits of revised arrear is no longer res integra and in identical matters, this Court has directed payment of interest for belated disbursement of the benefits

of revised arrear on and from May 19, 2009. In support of such contention reliance has been placed upon a Government Order dated October 21, 2013.

Heard learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and considered the materials on record.

In an identical matter, the Court has directed payment of interest for belated disbursement of the benefits of revised gratuity under ROPA, 1998 on and from May 19, 2009 till the date of actual disbursement of such benefits and as upon acceptance of such direction of the Hon'ble Court, the State authorities have issued the Government Order dated October 21, 2013, question of denial of interest to the petitioner does not occasion and in the said conspectus of facts and as the delay pertaining to disbursement of the revised benefits of arrear is not attributable to the petitioner, I am of the opinion that the petitioner is entitled to interest for belated disbursement of the benefits of revised arrear under ROPA, 1998 on and from May 19, 2009 till the date of actual disbursement of such benefits.

Accordingly, this court directs the respondents, particularly concerned Treasury Officer to pay interest to the petitioner at the rate of 9% per annum on the benefits of revised gratuity and arrear pension under ROPA, 1998 calculated on and from 01.04.1998 till the date of actual disbursement of such benefits to the petitioner within a period of ten weeks from the date of communication of this order.

With the above observations, this writ petition is disposed of.

There shall be no order as to costs.

Urgent photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be given to the parties on usual undertaking.

(Rajasekhar Mantha, J.)