10.02.2026 Sl. No.76 Ct. No.14 gd IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION APPELLATE SIDE WPA/18917/2025 SIKHA HAZRA (MALI) VS STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS. Mr. Banshi Badan Maity …for the Petitioner. Ms. Susmita Chatterjee …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 delayed payment of revised gratuity and arrear pension under ROPA, 2019 from the date of effect of ROPA, 2019 till the date of actual payment @ 18% per annum. 3. The petitioner contends that she was an approved Head Teacher of Jata Pancham Khand F.P. School, P.O. Jata, District-South 24-Parganas. The petitioner retired from service on superannuation on 30th November, 2018. The first Pension Payment Order was issued on 5th September, 2019. The revised Pension Payment Order was issued under ROPA, 2019 on 29th January, 2021. The revised gratuity and arrear pension as per ROPA, 2019 was disbursed to the petitioner on 10th February, 2021. However, no interest was paid. Hence, this writ petition. 4. Mr. Banshi Badan Maity, learned Advocate for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is entitled to interest on revised gratuity and arrear pension amount from the date of effect of ROPA, 2019, i.e. 14th February, 2020. He seeks for appropriate orders. 5. Ms. Susmita Chatterjee, learned Advocate for the State leaves the matter to the discretion of the Court. 6. From the contention 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 entitled to receive interest on revised gratuity and arrear pension from date of effect of ROPA, 2019. 7. Accordingly, respondent No.2, the Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance and respondent No.3, the Treasury Officer, Diamond Harbour are directed to disburse the interest @ 8% per annum on the revised gratuity and arrear pension from the date of effect of ROPA, 2019 i.e. 14th February, 2020 till the date of actual payment in favour of the petitioner within a period of eight weeks from date of communication of this order. 2 8. Learned advocate for the petitioner is directed to communicate this order to respondent No.2, the Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance and respondent No.3, the Treasury Officer, Diamond Harbour, for necessary compliance. 9. With the above direction, the writ petition being WPA 18917 of 2025 stands 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