18 12.08. 2026 Ct. No. 18 Ab WPA 18770 of 2026 Dhirendra Nath Patra Vs. The State of West Bengal and others. --------------- Mr. Samiran MOndal, Mr. Nitish Samanta, Mr. A. Mondal, Mr. S. Mitra. … for the petitioner. Ms. Smita Pal. … for the State. 1. The affidavit of service filed today is taken on record. 2. The petitioner has not been paid his arrear salary amounting approximately to Rs. 1,78,540/- from the period September 10, 2015 to September 25, 2016. The ostensible reasons stated in the reply to the query made in the Right to Information Act, 2005, by the petitioner is that the State coffers was empty on account whereof the payments could not be made. The petitioner has made a representation to the concerned authority, which is pending since April 2026. 3. In view of the afore-stated, I direct the respondent no. 6 to consider the representation of the petitioner dated April 6, 2026 within a period of four weeks from date of communication of this order. 4. The disbursement of arrear salary and gratuity, if found due, along with interest at the rate of 6% per annum will be made by October 15, 2026. 2 5. With the afore-stated directions, the writ petition is disposed of. 6. There shall, however, be no order as to costs. 7. Urgent Photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be given to the parties on priority basis. (Reetobroto Kumar Mitra, J.)