Writ Petitioner The present appeal has been preferred by the State and its functionaries challenging an order dated 6^th August, 2024 passed by the learned Judge in the writ petition being WPA 14777 of 2024.

As we have invited the learned advocates to advance their arguments on the merits of the matter, the delay in preferring in the present appeal is condoned and the application for condonation of delay being CAN 1 of

2025 is disposed of.

Records reveal that the writ petition, being WPA

14777 of 2024 was preferred by the writ petitioner/respondent no.1 herein, namely, Niranjan Adhikari (in short, Niranjan) challenging inter alia an order dated 16^th October, 2023 passed by the appellant no. 4 refusing to condone the deficiency in qualifying service of Niranjan and denying him pension on a purported finding that he had served less than 10 years, which debars him from such benefit under the West Bengal Recognised Non – Government Educational Institutions Employees (Death – cum – Retirement Benefit) Scheme (hereinafter referred to as the Pension Scheme).

Mr. Basu Mallick, learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the appellants submits that the shortage of qualifying service of th