Neutral Citation No. - 2025:AHC-LKO:48067 Court No. - 4 Case :- WRIT - A No. - 7824 of 2025 Petitioner :- Shri Babu Ram Respondent :- Union Of India Thru. Secy. Deptt. Of Telecommunications Ministry Of Communications And 2 Others Counsel for Petitioner :- Raj Mani Dubey Counsel for Respondent :- A.S.G.I.,Dwijendra Mishra Hon'ble Abdul Moin,J. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, Sri Anand Dwivedi, learned counsel for respondent no.1, and Ms. Shivangi Kapoor holding brief of Sri Dwijendra Mishra, learned counsel for respondents no.2 and 3. At the very outset Sri Anand Dwivedi, learned counsel for respondent no.1, and Ms. Shivangi Kapoor holding brief of Sri Dwijendra Mishra, learned counsel for respondents no.2 and 3, state that they do not intend to file counter affidavit and pray that the matter may be heard and decided finally. As such, the Court proceeds to hear and decide the matter finally. Present petition has been filed by the petitioner challenging the order dated 06.02.2025 whereby the respondents have indicated that the dues could not be paid to the petitioner. It further records that no interest is payable. Learned counsel for the petitioner argues that the petitioner had earlier approached this Court by filing Writ - A No.8154 of 2024 which was disposed off vide order dated 20.09.2024 directing respondents to take a decision with regard to the claim of the petitioner within a period of two months. In compliance of the said direction, the impugned order has been passed. The issue with regard to financial difficulty and interest on delayed payment was considered by this Court in the case of Nand Lal v. Indian Telephone Industries Limited and 2 Ors. (Writ - A No.31490 of 2016) decided on 09.03.2018 and thus, the stand taken in the impugned order with regard to financial difficulty is unsustainable. In view of the settled law as discussed above, impugned order dated 06.02.2025 is set aside with direction to respondent no.2 to pay the outstanding amounts alongwith interest at the rate of 7% per annum from the date of retirement till actual payment/realization to the petitioner within a period of four months from the date of production of a certified copy of this order. In case the amounts are not paid, the petitioner would be at liberty to initiate appropriate contempt proceedings. The writ petition is accordingly allowed. Order Date :- 18.8.2025 A. Katiyar Digitally signed by :- AMIT KATIYAR High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench