Asit Kumar Bhadra v. The Durgapur Projects Limited And ORS

28.

22.09.2022.

Ct. No. 21.

F.B.

WPA 21132 of 2022 Asit Kumar Bhadra -Vs.- The Durgapur Projects Limited & Ors.

Mr. Siddhartha Sarkar ..... For the Petitioner.

Mr. Sujit Sankar Koley ..... For the DPL.

The writ petitioner was a permanent employee of the Durgapur Projects Limited (in short, DPL) which is a Government of West Bengal enterprise.

He was superannuated from May 31, 2018. The gratuity dues of the writ petitioner aggregating Rs/- 2,79,529/- was paid on February 13, 2020. Neither quantum of gratuity nor the date of payment is in dispute.

Mr. Sarkar, Learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the writ petitioner, prays for interest on gratuity payable to the writ petitioner from June 01, 2018 (the date of succeeding date of retirement) till February 13, 2020 (the date of which the gratuity dues

were actually paid) but the leave salary has already been disbursed.

The issue has been squarely settled by various Judgements passed by Co-ordinate Bench of this Hon'ble Court.

Relying on the judgements on the same issue and considering the facts of the case it is directed that the writ petitioner is entitled to get interest on the delayed payment of his gratuity dues from June 01, 2018 till February 13, 2020 at the rate of 6% per annum.

The respondent authority/DPL is directed to pay the aforesaid payment within three months from date. In the event, the said amount is not disbursed within the stipulated period, the rate of interest will be enhanced to 10% per annum being the statutory rate under the payment of Gratuity Act, 1972.

Since no affidavits have been called for in this writ petition, all allegations contained therein are deemed not to have admitted by the parties.

With the aforesaid, the writ petition being WPA 21132 of 2022 is disposed of.

All parties to act in terms of the copy of the order downloaded from the official website of this Court.

Urgent photostat certified copies of this order, if applied for, be given to the parties upon compliance of all necessary formalities.

(Lapita Banerji, J.)