Swadesh Ranjan Maji v. The State Of West Bengal And ORS.

23.02.2026 Sl. No.44 Ct. No. 14 gd

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION APPELLATE SIDE WPA/20239/2025 SWADESH RANJAN MAJI VS THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS.

Mr. Tamal Taru Panda ...for the Petitioner Mr. Debabrata Mondal ...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 gratuity and arrear pension from the date following the date of retirement till the date of actual payment at the rate of 18% per annum.

3.

The petitioner contends that the petitioner was a Primary Teacher of Amdabad Kumirmara F.P. School, Post Office- Amdabad, District-Purba Medinipur. The petitioner retired from service on superannuation on 1st December, 2022 as Head Teacher of the said school. The pension payment order was issued on 4th December, 2023. The gratuity and arrear pension was disbursed on 6th December, 2023. However, no

interest on the aforesaid amount has been paid. Hence this writ petition.

4.

Mr. Tamal Taru Panda, learned advocate for the petitioner submits that there is a delay in disbursement of the gratuity and arrear pension and as such the petitioner is entitled to receive interest on the delayed payment of gratuity and arrear pension He seeks for appropriate orders.

5. Despite service, none appears on behalf of the State. 6.

Mr. Debabrata Mondal, learned Advocate, who usually appears on behalf of the State-respondent is requested to appear in this matter. The appearance of Mr. Mondal be regularised by the competent authority.

7.

Learned Advocate for the petitioner is directed to serve a copy of the writ petition along with its annexure upon Mr. Mondal, learned Advocate for the State.

8. Mr. Mondal, learned Advocate for the State leaves the matter to the discretion of this Court.

9. From the aforesaid contentions made in the writ petition, it is found that there is considerable delay in disbursement of the gratuity and arrear pension amount. It is the bounden duty of the State to disburse all the pensionary benefits to the employee forthwith, failing which the employee is entitled to interest on the aforesaid amount.

10.

Accordingly, respondent no. 2, the Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance, Government of West Bengal and respondent no. 4, the Treasury Officer, Haldia are directed to disburse the interest at the rate of @ 8% per annum on the gratuity and arrear of pension in favour of the petitioner by way of pensionary benefits from the date following the date of retirement till the date of actual payment. Such payment is to be made within a period of eight weeks from the date of communication of this order.

11.

Learned advocate appearing for the petitioner is directed to communicate this order to respondent no. 2, the Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance, Government of West Bengal and respondent no.4, the Treasury Officer, Haldia for necessary compliance.

12.

With the aforesaid directions, the writ petition being WPA 20239 of 2025 is disposed of.

13.

Since no affidavit is called for, the allegations made in the writ petition are deemed to have been denied. 14.

Consequently, connected applications, if any, stand disposed of.

15.

Interim orders, if any, stand vacated.

16.

There shall be no order as to costs.

17.

Urgent photostat certified copy of the order, if applied for, be given to the parties on compliance of all necessary legal formalities.

(Bivas Pattanayak, J.)