Pranati Dutta v. The State Of West Bengal And ORS.

27.09.2024 d.p.

Calcutta High Court In the Circuit Bench at Jalpaiguri Appellate Jurisdiction W.P.A 2158 of 2024 Pranati Dutta -versus The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Srikanta Datta, Mr. Raja Raj Roy.

...For the Petitioner.

Mr. Subir Kumar Saha, AGP, Mr. Sourav Sarkar.

...For the State.

Affidavit-of-service filed in Court today is taken on record.

The petitioner claims to be the widow of a deceased primary school teacher. She seeks family pension. Her application seeking family pension is pending consideration before the District Inspector of Schools (P.E.), Cooch Behar.

The petitioner relies on the judgment passed by the Hon'ble Special Bench on 20th June, 2023 in MAT 1518 of 2019 with IA No. CAN 2 of 2019 (State of West Bengal & Ors. -vs- Sabita Roy) wherein the Court held that the benefit of family pension can be extended to the widow daughter of an employee who superannuated or died prior to coming into force of the Death-cumRetirement Benefit Scheme, 1981 with effect from 1st April, 1981.

In view of the judgment passed by the Hon'ble Special Bench, the instant writ petition is disposed of by directing the District Inspector of Schools (P.E.), Cooch Behar to consider the prayer of the petitioner in the light of the judgment passed hereinabove and to take a decision in the matter at the earliest but positively within a period of eight weeks from the date of communication of this order.

reasoned order shall be passed and communicated to the petitioner immediately thereafter. In the event the petitioner is found eligible to receive family pension, then necessary consequential steps shall be taken immediately thereafter.

Learned advocate for the petitioner is directed to forward a copy of the representation made by the petitioner seeking family pension and a copy of the judgment of the Special Bench mentioned hereinabove to the aforesaid respondent at the time of communicating the order of the Court.

The writ petition stands disposed of.

Urgent certified photocopy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties expeditiously on compliance of usual legal formalities.

( Amrita Sinha, J.)