06.01.2026 Item No. 36 Ct. No. 14 IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA AN CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION APPELLATE SIDE WPA 17791 of 2025 Rina Ray vs.

State of West Bengal & ors.

Mr. Kalyan Kumar Panda … for the petitioner Ms. Kakali Pal … for the State

1. Affidavit of service filed on behalf of the petitioner is taken on record.

2. By the present writ petition, the petitioner seeks for direction upon the respondent authorities to disburse interest on arrear family pension amount from 28^th November, 2022 till the date of actual payment.

3. The petitioner contends that her father, late Abinash Chandra Majhi was an Assistant Teacher in the Srikantha (old) Primary School under Moyna Circle, District Purba Medinipur. The father of the petitioner retired from service on superannuation on 30^th June, 1997 and died on 10^th August, 2009. The pension was issued to the father of the petitioner. Upon demise of the father, the family pension was granted to the mother of the petitioner viz. Rukmini Majhi who died on 2^nd August, 2022. The petitioner’s husband died on 27^th November, 2022. On the prayer of the petitioner, being the widowed daughter of the deceased employee, family pension was granted in her favour on 25^th June, 2025. The arrear family pension was disbursed to the petitioner on 2^nd July, 2025. Though the petitioner is entitled to family pension from 28^th November, 2022, yet no interest on such arrear has been paid. Hence, this writ petition.

4. Mr. Kalyan Kumar Panda, learned advocate appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is entitled to interest on delayed payment of arrear family pension amount from 28^th November, 2022 till the date of actual payment.

5. None appears on behalf of the State despite service.

6. Ms. Kakali Pal, learned advocate who usually represents the State is requested to appear in this matter on behalf of the State. Let her appointment be regularised by the concerned authority.

7. Petitioner is directed to handover a copy of the writ petition alongwith all annexures to the learned advocate representing the State.

8. Ms. Pal, learned advocate representing the State does not raise any objection and leaves the matter to the discretion of the Court.

9. It is found that the petitioner became a widow on 27^th November, 2022. The pension payment order has been issued on 25^th June, 2025 in favour of the petitioner and the arrear family pension has been credited to the bank account of the petitioner on 2^nd July, 2025. The petitioner is entitled to family pension on and from 28^th November, 2022. However, no interest on the arrear family pension has been paid from the date of her entitlement.

10. Accordingly, respondent no.2, Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance, Government of West Bengal and respondent no.4, Treasury Officer, Tamluk, Purba Medinipur are directed to disburse interest @ 8% per annum on the arrear family pension amount from 28^th November, 2022 till the date of actual payment. Such payment shall be made within a period of 8 weeks from the date of communication of this order.

11. Learned advocate for the petitioner is directed communicate this order to respondent no.2, Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance, Government of West Bengal and respondent no.4, Treasury Officer, Tamluk, Purba Medinipur for necessary compliance.

12. With the above observations, WPA 17791 of 2025 stands disposed of.

13. Since no affidavits have been called for, the allegations made in the writ petition are deemed to be not admitted.

14. Consequently, connected applications, if any, also stand disposed of.

15. Interim orders, if any, stand vacated.

16. There will be no order as to costs.

17. Urgent certified photostat copy of this order, if applied for, shall be given to the parties as expeditiously as possible on compliance of all necessary formalities.

(Bivas Pattanayak, J.)