Rama Bhattacharjee v. The State Of West Bengal And ORS

Form J(1) CALCUTTA HIGH COURT

IN THE CIRCUIT BENCH AT JALPAIGURI

Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side Present :

The Hon'ble Justice Bibek Chaudhuri WPA 3222 of 2022 Rama Bhattacharjee Vs.

The State of West Bengal & Ors.

For the Petitioner : Mr. Deborshi Dhar, Adv.

Heard & Judgment On : 1st February, 2023.

Affidavit of service is taken on record.

The petitioner was an approved Assistant Teacher of Haldibari Girls Primary School in the district of Coochbehar. After rendering continuous service for 33 years she retired from service with effect from 31th January, 2019. It is stated by the petitioner that after her retirement she received her pension payment order on 25th July, 2019 and subsequently revised pension payment order as per ROPA 2019 on 17th December, 2021. She received revised gratuity and arrear pension on 18th December, 2021 but unfortunately no interest has been paid for delayed payment as yet.

Learned Advocate for the respondents has not opposed the prayer of the petitioner.

In view of the above and after hearing the learned Advocates for the parties, I direct the Directorate of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance, West Bengal and also the concerned treasury officer to pay interest to the petitioner at the rate of 8.5% per annum on the gratuity and arrear pension amount calculated from the date when ROPA 2019 came into force till the date of payment. Such payment is to be made within a period of eight weeks from the date of communication of this order.

This writ petition is accordingly disposed of without however, any order as to costs.

The parties are directed to act on the server copy of this order. (Bibek Chaudhuri, J.)