Sasanka Sekhar Joddar v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

rkd 01.08.2024 Ct.18 W.P.A. 19045 of 2024 Sasanka Sekhar Joddar -vsThe State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Sabita Khutia (Bhunya) ....for the petitioner.

Mr. Anand Farmania ....for the State.

Affidavit-of-service filed by the petitioner is taken on record.

Petitioner is a retired assistant teacher who superannuated on 31st August, 2006 and got the benefit under the Contributory Provident Fund Scheme (CPF). Subsequently, petitioner exercised option to come under the Pension-cum-Gratuity Scheme in terms of Government notification dated 13th June, 2014 which was issued in terms of the judgment of the Special Bench dated 16th July, 2013 passed on intra court appeal being APO No.94 of 2009 (State of West Bengal & Ors. -vs- Abhijit Baidya & Ors.).

It has also been submitted on behalf of the petitioner that as per demand of the State respondents he has deposited the amount along with interest and additional interest which he received under CPF Scheme.

However, the grievance of the petitioner is after taking steps in terms of the said notification dated 13th June, 2014 by issuing pension payment order dated 5th June, 2015 pensionary benefit was sanctioned in favour of the petitioner not from the date following the date of his retirement but from the date of refund which he made after exercising option in terms of the said notification dated 13th June, 2014. Petitioner claims issuance of revised pension payment order thereby sanctioning pensionary benefits from the date following the date of his superannuation based on the judgment of the Special Bench dated 30th September, 2019 passed on intra Court appeal being APO No.121 of 2007.

In spite of service of notice no one is representing the State respondents.

Mr. Anand Farmania, learned advocate is present in Court who usually represents the State and he is requested to enter his appearance on behalf of the State.

Let engagement of Mr. Farmania be regularized by the office of the learned Government Pleader.

It is submitted on behalf of the State that based on the judgment dated 30th September, 2019

of the Special Bench the benefit of pension is accorded to other similarly circumstanced retired teachers from the date following the date of their superannuation provided exercise of option has been made within time in terms of said notification dated 13th June, 2014 and if the refund is made by the concerned teacher as per the calculation of the State respondents.

This Court has heard the learned advocates representing the parties and has perused the relevant materials available on record.

It is nobody's case that the petitioner did not exercise option within time in terms of the said notification dated 13th June, 2014 and the petitioner on duly exercising option in terms of notification dated 13th June, 2014 switched over from CPF to Pension-cum-Gratuity Scheme. On placing reliance on paragraph 55 of the judgment of the Special Bench dated 30th September, 2019, this Court does not find any impediment in extending the benefit of pension to the petitioner from the date following the date of his retirement provided exercise of option is made within time and refund has been made as per the calculation of the State respondents.

Accordingly, this Court directs the State

respondents to issue revised pension payment order in favour of the petitioner within twelve weeks from the date of communication of this order thereby extending the benefit of pension from the date following the date of his superannuation. With the above direction, the writ petition stands disposed of.

However, there shall be no order as to costs.

Urgent photostat certified copy of the order, if applied for, be given to the parties, upon usual undertakings.

(Saugata Bhattacharyya, J.)