25.08.2026 Sl. No. 37 Ct. No. 14 gd IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION APPELLATE SIDE WPA/6726/2026 Sikha Rani Hazra VS The State of West Bengal and Ors. Ms. Debjani Sahu …for the Petitioner. Ms. Mary Datta …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 respondents for disbursement of interest on delayed payment of gratuity and arrear pension amount at the rate of 18% per annum under ROPA 2019 with effect from 14th February, 2020 till the date of actual payment. 3. The petitioner contends that her husband, late Anan Kumar Hazra was an Assistant Teacher of Joyrampur Tripalli F. P. School, Post Office – Joyrampur, District – Purba Bardhaman who retired on 31st October, 2016. The first pension payment order was issued on 18th November, 2016. The revised pension payment order under ROPA 2019 was issued on 31st May, 2022. The revised gratuity and arrear pension amount was disbursed on 7th June, 2022. The petitioner’s husband expired on 12th November, 2024. However, no interest was paid on the delayed payment of revised gratuity and arrear pension. Hence this writ petition. 4. Ms. Debjani Sahu, learned advocate for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is entitled to the interest on revised gratuity and arrear pension under ROPA 2019 with effect from 14th February, 2020 till the date of actual payment. She seeks for appropriate orders. 5. Ms. Mary Datta, learned advocate for the State leaves the matter to the discretion of this Court. 6. From the contentions made in the writ petition, it is found that the petitioner’s husband is entitled to revised gratuity and arrear pension under ROPA 2019 with effect from 14th February, 2020. The revised gratuity and arrear pension amount was disbursed to the petitioner’s husband belatedly. In view of the above, the petitioner is entitled to receive interest on revised gratuity and arrear from date of effect of ROPA 2019. 7. Accordingly, respondent no. 2, the Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance, Government of West Bengal and respondent no. 3, the Treasury Officer, Kalna, are directed to disburse the interest at the rate of @ 8% per annum on the revised gratuity and arrear pension in favour of the petitioner by way of pensionary benefits under ROPA 2019 with effect from 14th February, 2020 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. 3, the Treasury Officer, Kalna, for necessary compliance. 9. With the aforesaid directions, the writ petition being WPA 6726 of 2026 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