Form No.J(2)

CIRCUIT BENCH OF CALCUTTA HIGH COURT

AT JALPAIGURI

CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION

Present: The Hon’ble Justice Aniruddha Roy

WPA 1154 OF 2025

Arpita Adhikary

Vs.

The State of West Bengal & Ors.

For the Petitioner : Mr. Debajit Kundu, Adv.

Ms. Rajyashree Ghosh, Adv.

For the State : Mr. Hirak Barman, Adv.

Mr. Pradip Sarkar, Adv.

Heard on : 11.09.2025 Judgment on : 11.09.2025

Aniruddha Roy, J.

Affidavit of service filed in Court today, is taken on record.

The husband of the petitioner was an approved Assistant Professor of

Siliguri Surya Sen Mahavidyalaya. He died in harness on 01.11.2022

The Pension Payment Order was issued by the concerned respondent

on 24.03.2025. The petitioner had received pension and gratuity under the Pension Payment Order on 24.03.2025. The petitioner was entitled to

pensionary benefit from the date of retirement, the same was not paid.

The petitioner now claims interest for the delayed payment of the said gratuity and arrear pension on and from December 2, 2022.

Mr. Hirak Barman and Mr. Pradip Sarkar learned Advocates appear for the State.

It is trite that, the pension, which is lawfully payable to an employee is its property and if there is any delay in making such payment and the disbursement thereof in favour of such employee, such an employee is eligible and entitle to receive interest.

In view of the above, the respondents and or the Director of Public Instruction and the concerned Treasury Officer are directed to pay interest on the gratuity and arrear pension @ 8% per annum on and from date of retirement till the date of actual payment being received by the petitioner in terms of the Pension Payment Order The entire exercise as directed above, shall be carried out and completed positively by the respondents and or the Director of Public Instruction and the concerned Treasury Officer within a period of eight weeks from the date of communication of this order. In default, the said arrear amounts and the entitlement of the petitioner shall carry an additional interest of 2% per annum till the date the petitioner actually receives the same.

Since affidavits are not called for, the allegations made in the writ petition are deemed not to have been admitted by the respondents.

On the above terms, this writ petition being WPA 1154 of 2025 stands disposed of, without any order as to costs.

Photostat certified of this order, if applied for, be furnished expeditiously.

(Aniruddha Roy, J.)

D. Das, P.A.