An octogenarian lady has approached this Court with the present writ petition, seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the concerned respondents to issue the Pension Payment Order (in short, PPO) in her favour, and to release the family pension along with all other death-cum- retirement benefits accruing to her on account of the demise of her husband.

Succinctly stated, the facts giving rise to the institution of the present writ petition are that the petitioner’s husband was employed as an Assistant Teacher at Ramchandrapur Pallimangal Vidyapith (H.S.) Colony (hereinafter referred to as "the school"), situated in Village Thakurnagar, District North 24 Parganas. His appointment was duly approved with effect from 1st March, 1963.

After rendering continuous and unblemished service for a period of seventeen and a half years, the petitioner’s husband unfortunately died in harness. He was survived by the present petitioner, his lawful spouse. However, the family pension and other death-cum-retirement benefits that became due and payable to the petitioner upon the demise of her husband have not been disbursed to her by the concerned authorities. Aggrieved by such inaction and den