Rita Sharma v. The State Of West Bengal And ORS

07.08.2023 A.P.

jdt

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

Circuit Bench at Jalpaiguri Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction WPA No. 1719 of 2023 Rita Sharma vs.

State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Anirban Chakraborty ...for the Petitioner Mr. Subir Kumar Saha, AGP Pretom Das ...for the State Affidavit of service filed in court today is kept with the record.

The husband of the petitioner was an Assistant Teacher of a High School who died in harness on 8th November, 2021. The petitioner completed all her pension related formalities. The Pension Payment Order was issued on 26th September, 2022 However, the concerned authorities released gratuity and arrear pension amount on 7th November, 2022. 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, Kurseong are directed to pay interest to the petitioner @ 8% per annum on the gratuity and arrear pension amount calculated from 9th November, 2021 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)