24.03.2026 Sl. No. 44 Ct. No. 14 AN IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION APPELLATE SIDE WPA/21235/2025 SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL VS THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS. Ms. Debjani Sahoo …for the Petitioner Mrs. Nilanjana Dasgupta …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 he was an Assistant Teacher of Sonkadanga Adivasi F. P. School, Village, Post Office & Police Station Ausgram, Circle Ausgram- II, District Purba Bardhaman. After rendering 26 years of satisfactory service, he retired from service on superannuation on 31st August, 2017 as a Head Teacher from the said school. The first pension payment order was issued on 3rd August, 2017. The revised pension payment order under ROPA 2019 was issued on 1st October, 2021. The revised gratuity and arrear pension amount was disbursed to the petitioner on 4th October, 2021. However, no interest was paid on the delayed payment of revised gratuity and arrear pension. Hence this writ petition. 4. Ms. Debjani Sahoo, 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. Despite service none appears on behalf of the State. 6. Mrs. Nilanjana Dasgupta, learned advocate who usually represents the State is requested to appear in this matter on behalf of the State. Let her appointment be regularised by the competent authority. Petitioner is directed to handover a copy of the writ petition alongwith all annexures to the learned advocate representing the State. 7. Mrs. Nilanjana Dasgupta, learned advocate for the State leaves the matter to the discretion of the Court. 8. From the contentions made in the writ petition, it is found that the petitioner 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 belatedly. In view of the above, the petitioner is 2 entitled to receive interest on revised gratuity and arrear from date of effect of ROPA 2019. 9. Accordingly, respondent no. 2, the Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance, Government of West Bengal and respondent no. 3, the Treasury Officer, Burdwan-I, 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 payment. Such payment is to be made within a period of eight weeks from the date of communication of this order. 10. 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, Burdwan-I, for necessary compliance. 11. With the aforesaid directions, the writ petition being WPA 21235 of 2025 is disposed of. 12. Since no affidavit is called for, the allegations made in the writ petition are deemed to have been denied. 13. Consequently, connected applications, if any, stand disposed of. 14. Interim orders, if any, stand vacated. 15. There shall be no order as to costs. 3 16. 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.) 4