09.02.2026 Sl. No.31 Ct. No.14 gd IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION APPELLATE SIDE WPA/18420/2025 PRAVATI RANI GHOSAL MUKHOPADHYAY VS STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS. Ms. Jonaki Saha …for the Petitioner. Ms. Payel Mitra …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 death of the employee till the date of actual payment at the rate of 18% per annum. 3. The petitioner contends that the petitioner’s husband was appointed as Assistant Teacher of Monipur Primary School, P.O.-Topta, Dandi Raipur, District-Bankura. The husband of the petitioner died in harness on 30th December, 2003. The Pension Payment Order was issued on 4th May, 2006. The gratuity and arrear pension was disbursed in favour of the petitioner on 23rd February, 2020. However, no interest was paid on such delayed payment. Hence this writ petition. 4. Ms. Jonaki Saha, learned advocate for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is entitled to receive interest on delayed payment of gratuity and arrear of pension. 5. Ms. Payel Mitra, learned advocate for the State leaves the matter to the discretion of the Court. 6. From the aforesaid contention in the writ petition, it is found that there is delay in payment of the gratuity and arrear of pension. 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 such delayed payment. 7. Accordingly, respondent no.2, Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance, Government of West Bengal and respondent no.3-Treasury Officer, Khatra 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 death of the employee 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 respondent no.3, Treasury Officer, Khatra for necessary action. 9. With the aforesaid directions, the writ petition being WPA 18420 of 2025 stands disposed of. 2 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