Balika Mahata v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

02.02.2026 Sl. No.59 Ct. No.14 ss

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION APPELLATE SIDE W.P.A. No. 18371 of 2025 Balika Mahata

Versus

The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Manaranjan Sahu ...for the Petitioner.

Mr. Kaustav Chatterjee ...for the State.

1.

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

2.

By the present writ petition, the petitioner seeks direction upon the respondent authorities for disbursement of interest on delayed payment of revised gratuity and arrear pension from the date of effect of ROPA, 2019 till the date of actual payment @ 18% per annum in favour of the petitioner.

3.

The petitioner contends that he was an approved Assistant Teacher in Bandhbahal Primary School, P.O. Puncha, District Purulia. The petitioner retired from service on superannuation on 31st October, 2018 and died on 20th January, 2019. The first pension payment order was issued in favour of the husband of the petitioner on 12th October, 2018 and the revised pension payment order was issued on 15th March, 2022. The revised gratuity and arrear pension

amount were disbursed in favour of the petitioner on 7th April, 2022. However, no interest on delayed payment of such amount was made to the petitioner. Hence, this writ petition.

4.

Mr. Manaranjan Sahu, learned Advocate appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is entitled to interest on gratuity and arrear pension amount from the date of effect of ROPA, 2019, i.e. 14th February, 2020.

5.

Mr. Kaustav Chatterjee, learned advocate for the State leaves the matter to the discretion of the Court. 6.

In terms of ROPA, 2019 the petitioner is entitled to receive the revised gratuity and arrear pension amount from the date of effect of ROPA, 2019, i.e. 14th February, 2020. The revised gratuity and arrear pension is disbursed on 7th April, 2022. As such, the petitioner is entitled to interest on the aforesaid amount.

7.

Accordingly, the respondent No.2, Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance as well as respondent no.3, Treasury Officer, Purulia is directed to disburse interest @ 8% per annum on the revised gratuity and arrear pension amount in favour of the petitioner from the date of effect of ROPA, 2019 i.e. 14th February, 2020 till the date of actual payment, within a period of eight weeks from the date of communication of this order.

8.

Learned Advocate for the petitioner is directed to communicate this order to the respondent No.2 Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance and the respondent no.3, Treasury Officer, Purulia, for necessary compliance.

9.

With the aforesaid direction, the writ petition being WPA 18371 of 2025 stands disposed of.

10. Since no affidavits have been called for, the allegation made in the writ petition is deemed to be not admitted.

11. Interim order, if any, stands vacated.

12. All connected applications, if any, stand disposed of.

13. There shall be no order as to costs.

14. All concerned parties shall act in terms of the copy of the order duly downloaded from the official website of this Court.

(Bivas Pattanayak, J.)