Sabitri Sharma Chettri@Sabitri Chettri v. The State Of West Bengal And ORS

01.07.2025 Ct. No.2 b.das

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

Circuit Bench at Jalpaiguri Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction WPA No. 1310 of 2025 Sabitri Sharma Chetri Vs.

The State of W.B. & Ors.

Mr. Debajit Kundu ...for the petitioner.

Mr. Pretom Das Ms. Rima Sarkar ..for the State.

Affidavit of service filed by the petitioner is taken on record.

Heard learned counsels for the parties.

The petitioner was a teacher in a primary school and superannuated on 31st March, 2020. Despite completing all pension related formalities relating to the retiral benefits within due time the pension payment order was issued by the concerned authority on 1st November, 2021 and the pensionary benefits including gratuity was disbursed on 23rd February, 2022. The petitioner has prayed for interest on the gratuity amount paid to him due to delay in disbursal of the same.

Upon consideration of the submission made on behalf of the parties and material on record, the Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group

Insurance, Government of West Bengal and the Treasury Officer, Kalimpong being the 2nd and 4th respondents herein, are directed to pay interest to the petitioner @ 8% per annum on the gratuity amount calculated from 1st April, 2020 till the date of actual payment of the amount. Such payment shall be made within one month from the date of communication of this order.

With the above observations and directions the writ petition is disposed of.

However, there shall be no order as to costs. Since no affidavit is invited, the allegations contained in the petition are deemed not to be admitted.

Urgent certified website copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties upon compliance with all requisite formalities.

(Suvra Ghosh, J.)