Pratima Bej And ORS. v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.
07.04.2026 Sl. No.28 Ct. No.14 ss
IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION APPELLATE SIDE W.P.A. No. 21817 of 2025 Pratima Bej & ors.
Versus
The State of West Bengal & Ors.
Mr. Uttam Kumar Roy ...for the Petitioners.
Md. Nauroz Rahber ...for the State.
1.
Affidavit of service filed on behalf of the petitioners is taken on record.
2.
By the present writ petition the petitioners seek direction upon the respondent authorities for disbursement of interest on delayed payment of gratuity and arrear pension amount from the date following the date of death of the employee concerned till the date of actual payment at the rate of 18% per annum.
3.
The petitioners contend that the petitioner no.1 is the wife and the petitioner nos.2 and 3 are the daughters of the deceased employee, namely, Late Sunil Kumar Bej, who was an Assistant Teacher in Jinkura Primary School, P.O. Rajkhamar, District Bankura, and died-in-harness on 24th October, 2019. The pension payment order was issued in favour of the petitioners on 31st January, 2022. The gratuity and arrear pension was disbursed in favour of the petitioners on 1st March, 2022. However, no interest
on the aforesaid amount has been paid in favour of the petitioners. Hence this writ petition.
4.
Mr. Uttar Kumar Roy, learned advocate for the petitioners submit that there is a delay in disbursement of the gratuity and arrear pension amount and as such the petitioners are entitled to receive interest on the delayed payment of gratuity and arrear pension amount. He seeks for appropriate orders.
5.
Mer. Nauroz Rahber, learned Advocate for the State leaves the matter to the discretion of the Court. 6.
Though there is delay in making such claim, however, delay per se cannot defeat the valuable right of the petitioner. Relief may be granted to the writ petitioner in spite of the delay if it does not affect the right of third parties. (See: Union of India vs. Tarsem Singh reported in (2008) 3 SCC 648).
7.
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 forthwith, failure of which entitles the affected party to interest on the arrears amount.
8.
Accordingly, respondent no. 2, the Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance, Government of West Bengal and respondent no. 3, the Treasury Officer, Bishnupur are directed to disburse
the interest at the rate of @ 8% per annum on the gratuity and arrear of pension amount in favour of the petitioners by way of pensionary benefits from the date following the date of death of the employee concerned 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, in accordance with law but to the extent of their shares and entitlement.
9.
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. 3, the Treasury Officer, Bishnupur, for necessary compliance.
10. With the aforesaid directions, the writ petition being WPA 21817 of 2025 is disposed of.
11. Since no affidavit is called for, the allegations made in the writ petition are deemed to have been denied.
12. Consequently, connected applications, if any, stand disposed of.
13. Interim orders, if any, stand vacated.
14. There shall be no order as to costs.
15. 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.)