Anju Chowdhury v. The State Of West Bengal And ORS.

Item.48 10.12.2024 WPA 27645 of 2024 Smt. Anju Chowdhury -vsThe State of W.B. & ors.

Ms. Oindri Chowdhury Mr. Ashok Kr. Chowdhury ...for the petitioner Mr. Subhrangsu Panda Ms. Ina Bhattacharyya Ms. Mithu Singha Mohapatra ...for the College Mr. Swapan Kr. Dutta Mr. Tapas Kr. Dey ...for the State Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner ssi Ct. 17 submits as follows. The petitioner's husband worked in the respondent/college till 2008 when he retired. He passed away in 2015. After that, the petitioner made several representations before the concerned authorities for availing of family pension and gratuity. But, the same was neither processed nor paid by the concerned authorities. A representation was made lastly in the year 2002. That has also gone unanswered. There, the petitioner had clearly indicated that she had changed her residence. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent/ college denies the allegations and submits that the college on their part, have taken all steps in forwarding

relevant papers to the concerned Accountant General's office. It does not help the petitioner if she makes representation before the college in this regard. The college has come to know that the PPO was sent to the earlier at the last known address of the petitioner at least on two occasions, but was not received.

Learned Senior Counsel representing the State denies the allegations and submits that if the petitioner had changed her address then the same needs to be verified. A fresh PPO can be issued in favour of the petitioner, if other conditions are satisfied.

Non receipt of PPO at the last noted address cannot be a ground for dis-entitling the petitioner from family pension benefits regarding her husband's employment.

In view of the above, let the petitioner visit the office of the Accountant General (A & E), Government of West Bengal Treasury Building at 2, Government Place (West), Kolkata700001 on 16.12.2024 with relevant papers including documents regarding her identity, the address proof for her present address and copy of heirship certificate. The Accountant General shall hear out the petitioner and peruse relevant documents for verification and upon such verification, issue a fresh PPO in favour of the petitioner in this regard in accordance with law and expeditiously, preferably within a period of four weeks from 16.12.2024. With these observations and directions, the writ petition is disposed of.

All parties shall act on a server copy downloaded from the official website of this Court.

(Jay Sengupta, J.)