1 2026:CGHC:24000 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 4319 of 2021 Smt. Reena Kannaujiya Wife Of Shri Arvind Kannaujiya Aged About 41 Years Working As Lecturer (L.B.) T-Cadre And Posted At Govt. Higher Secondary School Ghanghari Ambikapur, District Sarguja (Chhattisgarh). ... Petitioner versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Secretary, Department Of Urban Administration And Development, Mahanadi Bhawan, Mantralaya New Raipur, District Raipur (Chhattisgarh), District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh 2 - Director Directorate Of Chhattisgarh Public Instruction, Block-3, First Floor, Indravati Bhawan Atal Nagar, Raipur, District Raipur (Chhattisgarh) 3 - Commissioner Municipal Corporation, Ambikapur, District Sarguja (Chhattisgarh) 4 - Chief Executive Officer Zila Panchayat Sarguja, Ambikapur Chhattisgarh. ... Respondent(s) For Petitioner : Mr. Ram Vifal Ram Rajwade, Advocate For State/Res. No.1 & 2 For Respondent No.3 For Respondent No.4 : : : Ms. Saumya Sharma, Panel Lawyer Mr. Bhupendra Singh, Advocate Mr. Shubham Bajpai, Advocate Hon’ble Shri Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey Order on Board 16/06/2026 2 1. The petitioner has filed this petition seeking the following relief(s):- “10.i. That, the Hon’ble Court may kindly be pleased to direct the respondent authorities to grant arrears of revised pay scale amount Rs.6,48,670/- from July, 2013 to September, 2016 alongwith 18 % interest within stipulated time accordance with law as clearly mentioned in Annexure P/5, in the interest of justice. ii. Any other relief which may be suitable in the facts and circumstances of the case, may also be granted.” 2. Brief facts are that the petitioner, who is working on the post of Lecturer (LB) T-Cadre, claimed arrears of revised pay scale amounting to 6,48,670/- for the period from July, 2013 to September, 2016. He ₹ would submit that respondent No. 3 has made payment of the arrears of pay scale vide order dated 21.11.2025; however, interest on the delayed payment has not been paid to the petitioner. It is contended that since there was considerable delay on the part of the respondent authorities in releasing the amount, they are liable to pay interest thereon. 3. Mr. Bhupendra Singh, learned counsel for the respondent No.3 would submit that the petitioner claimed arrears of salary in the year 2017 and immediately thereafter correspondence was made with the District Education Officer on 15.01.2018 and 24.01.2018, however, no action was taken. He would further submit that when the amount was finally sanctioned and the calculation sheet was supplied by the State authorities, respondent No. 3 immediately released the amount. He would submit that there was no delay on the part of respondent No. 3. 4. Ms. Saumya Sharma, learned Panel Lawyer appearing for the State would submit that upon receipt of the letter from the office of respondent No. 3, the verification report and calculation sheet were forwarded to respondent No. 3 on 19.11.2025; thus, there was no delay on the part of the State authorities. 3 5. Mr. Shubham Bajpayee, learned counsel appearing for respondent No. 4 would submit that the petitioner remained an employee of respondent No. 4 only for a period of one year and the dispute is between the petitioner and respondent No. 3. 6. Heard. 7. Admittedly, the amount of arrears of salary has already been sanctioned and paid to the petitioner vide order dated 21.11.2025. The documents annexed along with the reply filed by respondent No. 3 demonstrate that several communications were made by respondent No. 3 to the office of the District Education Officer, Ambikapur, seeking necessary verification and sanction; however, no action was taken for a considerable period. 8. The District Education Officer, Ambikapur remained in a state of slumber for a substantial period and only on 19.11.2025 furnished the calculation sheet. Immediately thereafter, respondent No. 3 released the arrears amount in favour of the petitioner. 9. Since the delay caused on the part of the District Education Officer, Ambikapur, the liability to pay interest shall be borne by the State authorities. 10. Accordingly, the State authorities are directed to make payment of interest part on total amount of arrears of revised pay scale at the rate of 8% per annum from the date on which the amount became due till the date of its realization. 11.The entire exercise shall be completed within a period of 60 days. 12. With the aforesaid observation(s) and direction(s), the petition stands disposed of. Sd/- Rakesh Mohan Pandey JUDGE Nadim