13-07-2026 Item No.44 ML Subrata Bhattacharyya AR(C) In The High Court At Calcutta Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side WPA No.14522 of 2025 Mukul Chandra Hazra -versus The State of West Bengal & Ors. Mr. Gautam Malik …for the petitioner Ms. Tapasi Palit Sinha Mr. Monojit Chakraborty …for the State 1. Affidavit of service filed in Court be taken on record. 2. The petitioner was appointed as an assistant teacher of a high school who retired from service on July 31, 2016. The first pension payment order was issued on May 6, 2016 and the arrear pension was disbursed on August 21, 2016. 3. Under the ROPA Rules, 2019, there was revision of the gratuity amount payable to the petitioner. The revised pension payment order was issued on October 16, 2020 and the arrear revised pension was disbursed on November 12, 2020 in terms of ROPA 2019. The petitioner claims interest on delayed payment of revised gratuity as also arrear pension. 4. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and considered the orders passed by this court on similar facts. 5. It is settled law that the right of a retired employee to get his retiral dues as and when the same becomes due and payable. If payment of the retiral dues is delayed the retired employee is surely entitled to get some interest for such delayed payment. 6. In the present case, it was the bounden duty of the State to disburse the pension amount on the due date. If it has failed to do so and has released such amount after unexplained delay, it is obliged to pay interest to the retired employee. Pension and gratuity are welfare provisions aimed at maintaining the life of a retired employee and his/her dependents. This is compensatory in nature. 7. In view of the aforesaid, I direct the concerned Treasury Officer to pay interest to the writ petitioner at the rate of 5% per annum on the revised gratuity and arrear pension calculated on and from the due date till the date of actual payment, provided the delay caused was not attributable to the petitioner. 8. The Treasury Officer shall not be obliged to pay interest if the delay was caused on account of any lapse on the part of the teacher. 9. Such payment is to be made within eight weeks from the date of communication of the certified copy of this order to the concerned authorities. 10. The concerned respondent authority is directed to take appropriate steps in accordance with law against the erring officer(s) for whose fault there has been delay in releasing the retirement benefit to the petitioner. 11. The writ petition stands disposed of. 12. Certified copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties. [Amrita Sinha, J] 2