Gita Rani Santra v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.
IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION APPELLATE SIDE 28 16.12.2025 Sc Ct. no.14 WPA 27138 OF 2025 -------------- Gita Rani Santra Vs.
The State of West Bengal & Ors.
Mr. Sourav Mitra Mr. Goutam Malik Ms. Sreyasree Choudhury.
.... For the Petitioner Mr. Dipankar Das Gupta .... For the Respondents State 1.
Affidavit-of-service, filed in Court today, is taken on record.
2.
By the present writ petition the petitioner seeks direction upon the respondent authorities for disbursement of interest on arrear pension amount from the date of entitlement till the date of actual payment together with interest.
3.
The petitioner contends that her father was an approved Assistant Teacher of Biruliya No.1 Primary School, Biruliya, Purba Medinipur. The petitioner's father died-in-harness on 13th March, 1979. The mother of the petitioner expired on 29th November, 2007. The husband of the petitioner expired on 9th August, 1994. The petitioner is a widowed daughter of deceased employee, namely Upendra Nath Giri. The petitioner
has been granted Family Pension in terms of the Government Circular dated 10th January, 2008. Pension Payment Order was issued on 4th July, 2025. The arrear family pension has been disbursed in favour of the petitioner on 31st July, 2025. However, no interest has been paid on such delayed payment of arrear family pension, hence this writ petition.
4.
Mr. Sourav Mitra, learned Advocate for the petitioner submits that the petitioner being a widowed daughter is entitled to receive the interest on arrear family pension amount from the date following the date of the petitioner's entitlement.
5.
Mr.
Dipankar Das Gupta, learned Advocate appearing for the State submits that the petitioner has not mentioned the Arrear Family Pension received by her.
6.
Learned Advocate for the State leaves the matter to the discretion of the Court.
7.
From the contention of the writ petition, it appears that there is delay in disbursement of arrear family pension. It is the bounden duty of the State to disburse the pension and retiral benefits of the employee forthwith failing which, the employee is entitled to interest on the delayed payment of the same.
8.
In view of the contentions raised in the writ petition, the respondent no.2, Director of Pension Provident Fund and Group Insurance, Government of
West Bengal and the respondent no.3, Treasury Officer, Contai, Purba Medinipur are directed to pay the interest @8% per annum on arrear family pension in favour of the petitioner on and from 10th January, 2008 till the date of issuance of the Pension Payment Order. 9.
Learned Advocate for the petitioner is directed to communicate this order to respondent no. 2, Director of Pension Provident Fund and Group Insurance, Government of West Bengal and respondent no.3, Treasury Officer, Contai, Purba Medinipur, for necessary compliance.
10. With the above direction, the writ petition, WPA 27138 of 2025 stands disposed of.
11. There will be no order as to costs.
12. Since no affidavit has been called for, the allegations made in this writ petition are deemed to be not admitted.
13. The parties shall act on the server copy of this order duly downloaded from the official website of this Court. (Bivas Pattanayak, J.)