02.02.2026 Sl. No. 33 Ct. No. 14 AN IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION APPELLATE SIDE WPA/18186/2025 SATIRANI MUKHERJEE VS THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS. Ms. Arpita Saha Ms. Ria Bhunya …for the Petitioner Mr. Debasish Bhattacharyya …for the State 1. Affidavit of service filed on behalf of the petitioner is taken on record. 2. By the present writ petition the petitioner seeks direction upon the respondent authorities for disbursement of interest on delayed payment of arrear pension from the date following the date of retirement of the husband of the petitioner till the date of actual payment at the rate of 18% per annum. 3. The petitioner contends that the petitioner’s husband was appointed as an Assistant Teacher in Palagacha Primary School, Village Tatla, Post Office & Police Station Chakdaha, District Nadia, who retired from service on superannuation on 31st December, 1992 after rendering satisfactory service of about 33 years. The pension payment order was issued in favour of the petitioner’s husband on 20th January, 2000. The arrear pension was disbursed in favour of the petitioner’s husband on 17th March, 2000. However, no interest on the aforesaid amount has been paid in favour of the petitioner’s husband. The husband of the petitioner died on 9th December, 2017. Hence this writ petition. 4. Ms. Arpita Saha, learned advocate for the petitioner submits that there is a delay in disbursement of the arrear pension and as such the petitioner is entitled to receive interest on the delayed payment of arrear pension She seeks for appropriate orders. 5. Mr. Debasish Bhattacharyya, learned advocate representing the State leaves the matter to the discretion of the Court. 6. From the aforesaid contentions made in the writ petition, it is found that there is considerable delay in disbursement of the arrear pension. It is the bounden duty of the State to disburse all the pensionary benefits to the employee forthwith, failing which the employee is entitled to interest on the aforesaid amount. 7. Accordingly, respondent no. 2, the Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance, Government of West Bengal and respondent no. 4, the Treasury Officer, Kalayani are directed to disburse the interest at the rate of @ 8% per annum on the arrear of pension in favour of the petitioner by way of pensionary benefits from the date following the date of retirement of her husband till the date of actual 2 payment. Such payment is to be made within a period of eight weeks from the date of communication of this order. 8. Learned advocate appearing for the petitioner is directed to communicate this order to respondent no. 2, the Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance, Government of West Bengal and respondent no. 4, the Treasury Officer, Kalayani for necessary compliance. 9. With the aforesaid directions, the writ petition being WPA 18186 of 2025 is disposed of. 10. Since no affidavit is called for, the allegations made in the writ petition are deemed to have been denied. 11. Consequently, connected applications, if any, stand disposed of. 12. Interim orders, if any, stand vacated. 13. There shall be no order as to costs. 14. Urgent photostat certified copy of the order, if applied for, be given to the parties on compliance of all necessary legal formalities. (Bivas Pattanayak, J.) 3