2172 1166..0077..22002255 Ct. No. 18 adeb W.P.A. 2562 of 2024 Sucheta Baidya & Anr. Vs. The State of West Bengal & Ors. Mr. Goutam Kumar Maity …for the petitioner Ms. Rupsha Chakraborty …for the State 1. Affidavit of service filed on behalf of the petitioners is taken on record. 2. Husband of the petitioner was an Assistant Teacher of a Government aided high school, who died-in- harness on 26th March, 2020 and after his death, Pension Payment Order was issued on 23rd May, 2022 releasing terminal benefits including death gratuity in favour of the petitioner. Petitioner claims interest on gratuity due to delayed payment. 3. State respondents are represented by learned advocate. 4. Accordingly, the Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance, West Bengal and the concerned Treasury Officer are directed to pay interest at the rate of 8% per annum to the petitioner on gratuity from the date following the date of death of husband of petitioner till the date of release of gratuity, within a period of 8 (eight) weeks from the date of communication of this order. 2 5. Since no affidavit is called for, the allegations contained in the writ petition are deemed not to have been admitted. 6. With the above observation, the writ petition stands disposed of. 7. There shall be no order as to costs. 8. Urgent photostat certified copy of the order, if applied for, be given to the parties, upon usual undertakings. (Saugata Bhattacharyya, J.)