Renuka Bala Giri v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.
22.04.2022 SL No. 352 Court No. 24 GB In The High Court At Calcutta Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side WPA 20000 of 2021 Renuka Bala Giri Vs The State of West Bengal & Ors.
Mr. Tamaltaru Panda ... for the petitioner Affidavit-of-service filed in Court today is taken on record.
None appears on behalf of the State respondents.
The husband of the petitioner was a Primary Teacher of Kusumtala Paschim F.P. School. He retired on 30.04.2001 and died on 20.09.2005. On 27.06.2002 the Pension Payment Order was issued in favour of the husband of the petitioner and the teacher received the arrear pension amount on 12.09.2002.
The petitioner, being the widow, prays for interest on account of the delayed payment of the terminal benefits.
In the present case it is noticed that the petitioner has approached this Court long after the Pension Payment Order was issued and payment made in accordance with the same.
The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Union of India -vs- Tarsem Singh reported in (2008) 8 SCC 648 clearly laid down that in so far as consequential relief of recovery of arrear for a past period is concerned the relief shall be restricted only to a period of three years prior to the filing of the writ petition or from the date of demand made by the petitioner.
In the instant case the teacher did not raise any demand before the respondents praying for release of interest on account of delay in making payment. The widow directly approached this Court praying for interest, that too, long after the PPO was issued and payment received by her deceased husband.
The conduct of the teacher implies that he waived his right to claim interest on account of the delayed payment of his terminal benefits.
There is no explanation given with regard to the inordinate delay in filing the writ petition. In view of the above, the Court is not inclined to exercise jurisdiction in the matter and grant any relief in favour of the petitioner.
The writ petition is dismissed.
Urgent photostat certified copy of this order be supplied to the parties, if applied for, as early as possible.
(Amrita Sinha, J.)