1 2025:CGHC:43417 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 474 of 2022 1 - Natthulal Jaiswal S/o Late Shri Balram Jaiswal Aged About 71 Years Retired Deputy Ranger, Office Of D.F.O. Korba, R/o Village- Dudga, Post And Tahsil - Katghora, District- Korba Chhattisgarh. ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through - The Secretary, Department Of Forest Mantralaya, Atal Nagar, Raipur, Naya Raipur, District - Raipur Chhattisgarh. 2 - The Chief Conservation Of Forest Bilaspur Circle, District - Bilaspur Chhattisgarh. 3 - The Additional Chief Conservation Of Forest Raipur, Aranaya Bhawan, Raipur, District - Raipur Chhattisgarh. 4 - The Divisional Forest Officer Korba Division, District - Korba Chhattisgarh. 5 - The Joint Director (Treasuries Accounts And Pension) Bilaspur Division, District Bilaspur Chhattisgarh. 6 - The District Treasury Officer Korba, District - Korba Chhattisgarh. ... Respondent(s) For Petitioner : Shri Alok Rishi, Advocate. For Respondent/ State : Shri Sanjeev Agrawal, P.L. Hon'ble Shri Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey Order on Board 26.08.2025 1. The petitioner has filed this petition seeking the following reliefs:- NIRMALA RAO 2 “10.1 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to call for the entire records of the case. 10.2 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to pass an appropriate writ / direction against the respondent authorities to pay the interest amount from the period April 2010 to April 2017 to the petitoner. 10.3 Any other relief which may this Hon'ble Court, deem fit.” 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner was working in the post of Deputy Forest Ranger and stood retired from service on 30.4.2010. He would contend that at the time of the settlement of the retiral dues, a sum of Rs.84,701/- was deducted by the department without assigning any reason. He would further contend that WP(S) No. 6162 of 2011 was filed challenging the said deduction, and vide order dated 12.1.2012, the respondents were directed to refund the said amount with interest @ 6%. He would further submit that the said amount was refunded accordingly. He would also submit that thereafter the respondents deducted Rs.1,13,798/- from the amount of gratuity of the petitioner in the month of April, 2010, and later on, it was refunded on 7.5.2017, but the interest component was not paid. He would also submit that the respondents may be directed to make payment of the interest component on the said amount from April, 2010 till 7.5.2017. 3. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State would oppose the submissions made by counsel for the petitioner. 4. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the documents present on the record. 3 5. Admittedly, the amount of Rs.1,13,798/- was deducted without any rhyme or reason from the gratuity account of the petitioner in the month of April, 2010, and after seven years, it was refunded on 7.5.2017, but the interest component was not paid to the petitioner. As no reason was assigned by the respondent authorities for such a deduction, the petitioner is entitled to the interest component on the said amount from April, 2010 till 7.5.2017. 6. Accordingly, the petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondent authorities to make the payment of interest component @ 6% per annum on the amount of Rs.1,13,798/- from April, 2010 till 7.5.2017 within a period of 90 days, failing which the said amount shall carry interest @ 10% per annum. 7. With the aforesaid observation(s), this petition is disposed of. Sd/- (Rakesh Mohan Pandey) Judge Nimmi