03.02.2026 Sl. No.28 Ct. No.14 gd IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION APPELLATE SIDE WPA/28469/2025 PURNIMA SADHUKHAN VS STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS. Mr. Uttam Kumar Roy …for the Petitioner. Mr. Tapas Kumar Dey …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 gratuity and arrear pension in favour of the petitioner from the date following the date of retirement till the date of actual payment. 3. The petitioner contends that she was a Head Teacher of Basudevpur Parul Junior Basic School, Basudevpur, District-Hooghly. The petitioner retired from service on superannuation on 28th February, 2025. The Pension Payment Order was issued on 19th August, 2025. The gratuity and arrear of pension was disbursed in favour of the petitioner on 27th August, 2025. However, no interest was paid on such delayed payment. Hence this writ petition. 4. Mr. Uttam Kumar Roy, learned advocate for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is entitled to receive interest on delayed payment of gratuity and arrear of pension. 5. Mr. Tapas Kumar Dey, learned advocate for the State leaves the matter to the discretion of the Court. 6. It is found that the petitioner retired from service on 28th February, 2025 and the gratuity and arrear of pension was disbursed in favour of the petitioner on 27th August, 2025. Hence there is delay in payment of the aforesaid amount. It is the bounden duty of the State to disburse the retiral benefits to the employee forthwith failing which the employee is entitled to receive interest on delayed payment of gratuity and arrear of pension. 7. Accordingly, respondent no.2, Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance, Government of West Bengal and respondent no.4-Treasury Officer, Arambagh are directed to pay the interest at the rate of interest @ 8% per annum on gratuity and arrear pension in favour of the petitioner from the date following the date of retirement 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. 8. Petitioner is directed to communicate this order to the respondent no.2, Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance, Government of West Bengal and 2 respondent no.4, Treasury Officer, Arambagh for necessary action. 9. With the aforesaid directions, the writ petition being WPA 28469 of 2025 is disposed of. 10. Since no affidavits have been called for, the allegation made in the writ petition is deemed to be not admitted. 11. Interim order, if any, stands vacated. 12. All connected applications, if any, stand disposed of. 13. There shall be no order as to costs. 14. All concerned parties shall act in terms of the copy of the order duly downloaded from the official website of this Court. 15. 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