April 2, 2026 (5) ARDR WPA 3846 of 2025 Shashanka Sekhar Mahato Vs. The State of West Bengal & ors. Adv. Sudipa Biswas, …for the petitioner. Affidavit of service filed by the petitioner is taken on record. None appears for the respondents despite service. Mr. Subhendu Sen Gupta, advocate, who usually appears for the State and is present in Court today, is requested to appear for the State in this matter. His appointment be regularised by the concerned authority. The petitioner is directed to serve copy of the writ petition along with annexure thereto upon Mr. Sen Gupta, advocate in course of this day. Heard learned counsels for the parties. The petitioner was appointed as Panchayat Secretary under Buribandh Gram Panchayat and superannuated on 31st October, 2018. Despite completing all pension related formalities within due time the pension payment order was issued by the concerned authority on 1st November, 2018. Subsequently, there was revision of payment of gratuity amount payable to the petitioner under the ROPA Rules, 2019 and revised pension payment order was issued 2 on 1st November, 2022. The revised gratuity and arrear pension were disbursed in favour of the petitioner on 5th November, 2022. The petitioner has prayed for interest on the gratuity amount and arrear pension paid to him due to delay in disbursal of the same. Upon consideration of the submission made on behalf of the parties and material on record, the Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance, Government of West Bengal and the Treasury Officer, Purulia, being the 3rd and 4th respondents herein, are directed to pay interest to the petitioner at the rate of eight per cent per annum on the gratuity and arrear pension amount calculated from 1st January, 2020 till the date of actual payment of the amount. Such amount shall be paid within two months from the date of communication of this order. With the above observation and direction the writ petition is disposed of. There shall however, be no order as to costs. Since no affidavit is invited, the allegations contained in the petition are deemed not to have been admitted. Urgent certified website copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties upon compliance with all requisite formalities. (Suvra Ghosh, J.)