Rina Sarkar v. The State Of West Bengal And ORS.

04.08.2023 A.P.

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

Circuit Bench at Jalpaiguri Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction WPA No. 1665 of 2023 Rina Sarkar vs.

The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Deborshi Dhar ...for the Petitioner Mr. Subir Kr. Saha, AGP Bedashruti Bose ...for the State Affidavit of service filed in court today is kept with the record.

The husband of the petitioner was a Head Teacher of a Primary School who died in harness on 27th November, 2020. The petitioner completed all her pension related formalities. The Pension Payment Order was issued on 10th September, 2021. However, the concerned authorities released gratuity and arrear pension amount on 15th September, 2021. The petitioner herein seeks interest to be paid on the gratuity and arrear pension amount for the interim period of delay in receipt of the said gratuity and arrear pension amount.

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, Alipurduar are directed to pay interest to the petitioner @ 8% per annum on the gratuity and arrear pension amount calculated from 28th November, 2020 till the date of actual payment of the amount. Such payment be made within one month from the date of communication of this order. With these observations, the writ petition is disposed of.

Since, no affidavit-in-opposition has been called for, the allegations made in the writ petition are deemed to have not been admitted by the respondents.

There will be no order as to costs.

Urgent certified website copy of this order, if applied for, be furnished to the parties upon compliance of necessary formalities.

(Suvra Ghosh,J)