Noop Dorjee Lepcha v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

12.06.2023.

Ct. 3 skc In the High Court at Calcutta Circuit Bench at Jalpaiguri Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side WPA 414 of 2023 Noop Dorjee Lepcha -versusState of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Subir Kr. Saha,Adv.

Mr. M. Rahman,Adv.

..for respondent.

Affidavit of service filed by the petitioner be kept with record.

The petitioner has retired from service on 31st January, 2018 and the first PPO was issued on 26th February, 2019. In the meantime, ROPA Rule was introduced with effect from 1st January, and subsequently on 8th October, 2021 the revised PPO was issued and arrears of pension and gratuity were released on 9.11.2021. Now the petitioner claims for interest on gratuity with effect from 31st October, 2018 till 9.11.2021. The petitioner has also prayed for interest on arrears of pension with effect from 31st Octobe, 2018 till 9.11.2021.

Considered the submission made by the Counsel for the petitioner, this Court finds that there is a delay of more than three years in releasing gratuity and pension of the petitioner. The petitioner is entitled to get the interest at the rate of 10 per cent on the gratuity amount as well as interest on arrears of pension with effect from 31st October, till 9.11.2021.

The respondent nos. 2 and 3 are directed to release interest on gratuity amount as well as on arrears of pension at the rate of 10 per cent per annum within a period of four weeks from the date of communication of this order.

WPA No. 414/2023 is thus disposed of.

(Krishna Rao, J.)