JUDGMENT :

B.R. SARANGI, J.

The Petitioner, who was working under the then South Eastern Railways, has filed this Writ Petition seeking to quash the Order dated 18.05.2020 passed in O.A. No. 260/00869 of 2016, whereby the Central Administrative Tribunal, Cuttack Bench, Cuttack has denied him interest on the delayed payment of retirement benefits, and to issue direction to the Opposite Parties to grant interest @ 12% per annum on such retirement financial benefits.

2. The factual matrix of the case, in brief, is that the Petitioner joined in the Railway service on 01.01.1983 and was confirmed on 09.01.1991 under the then South Eastern Railways. The Petitioner was then empanelled for promotion/regularization as Junior Clerk, after he was selected on the basis of written examination, vide Order dated 22/23.01.1998. Consequently, he was regularized as Junior Clerk with effect from 01.02.1992 and promoted to the post of Senior Clerk on ad hoc basis with effect from 01.02.1994, vide Office Order dated 11.06.1998. The Deputy Chief Personnel Officer (Construction), South Eastern Railways, vide Office Order dated 24.07.2002, revised the date of promotion of the Petitioner as Senior Clerk and d