This Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution has been filed by one Ram Gulam, a retired Government servant for recovery of interest for the period from 1st October 1996 to 31st October 2005 over the amount of general provident fund due and payable to him.

The writ petitioner, a Land Acquisition Officer-cum-Additional Collector in the district of West Champaran, Bettiah came to be dismissed from service on 16th March 1996 on disciplinary grounds. Pursuant to his dismissal from service, he was entitled to receive the amount of provident fund standing to his credit in the provident fund account. The said amount however was not paid to the petitioner until 31st October 2005. The petitioner was paid the amount standing to his credit on 16th March 1996 and interest for six months from March 1996. The petitioner was not paid interest for the period from 1st October 1996 to 31st October 2005. Therefore, this Petition.

The Petition came up for hearing before the learned single Judge on 11th February 2010. The learned single Judge noticed the judgments of this Court in the matters of Ram Pavitra Singh Vs. The State of Bihar & Ors. {2003(1) PLJR 301} and of State of Bihar & An