Monoj Kumar Dutta v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

24.08.2023 AKG Court 238 WPA 18734 of 2023 Monoj Kumar Dutta Vs.

The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Ashis Kumar Paul ... For the petitioner.

Mr. Sukalpa Seal ... For the State.

The petitioner retired as an Assistant Teacher from Jagatpur F. P. School, under Raina-II Circle, P.O. - Meral, Dist. Purba Bardhaman on August 31, 2007. The petitioner was initially under the Contributory Provident Fund Scheme. Subsequently, he was allowed to switch over to Gratuity-cumProvident Fund Scheme following a Memo No. 79 SEL/SL/5S-56/13(Pt-V) dated June 30, 2014 and accordingly Pension Payment Order was issued in favour of him with effect from the date of refund of employer's share of contribution with interest, i.e., September 9, 2014.

The petitioner by filing this writ petition claims that he should be given pensionary benefits from the date of his retirement.

From an affidavit filed by the State in WPA 24390 of 2022 (Motiur Rahaman vs. The State of West Bengal

& Ors.), it appears that by a Memo No. 1481SE(Law)/5S/737/08(Pt.) dated December 13, 2022 the Commissioner of School Education, West Bengal through Memo No. 610(49) -LP dated December 20, 2022 directed all the District Inspector of Schools (SE) to comply with the directions of this Court where pension was directed to be given from the date of retirement instead of date of refund of Government's share of Contributory Provident Fund, subject to decision of Review application so filed by the State againt such orders.

There is no ground that the petitioner should be treated differently. Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction upon the State to release the pensionary benefits in favour of the petitioner with effect from date of his retirement, subject to the result of the Review application, if any, pending before this Court.

Accordingly, WPA 18734 of 2023 is disposed of. Urgent photostat certified copies of this order, if applied for, be made available to the parties upon compliance with the requisite formalities.

(Kausik Chanda, J.)