JUDGMENT

Dr. B.R. Sarangi, J. - The petitioner, who was working as Cashier-cum-Clerk-cum-Typist (CCT) under the State Bank of India, has filed this writ petition seeking a writ of mandamus to the opposite parties to sanction pension under the State Bank of India Employees' Pension Fund Rules, with effect from 01.03.2013, on his retirement on attaining the age of superannuation on 28.02.2013. The petitioner further seeks for direction to the opposite parties to pay interest @ 12% per annum on the amount of arrears of pension due to him with effect from 21.03.2015, i.e. the date from which the award became enforceable under Section 17A(1) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, till the same is actually paid.

2. The facts of the case, in a nutshell, are that, the petitioner joined in the permanent post of Cashier-cum-Clerk-cum-Typist (CCT) in State Bank of India on 18.01.1979. While he was working in the Temple Road Branch, Puri, on 30.10.1986, the opposite party-bank placed him under suspension. Steps were also taken to prosecute him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Before investigation was completed, the opposite party bank conducted a domestic enquiry against the petition