IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION APPELLATE SIDE Present:

The Hon’ble Justice Ananya Bandyopadhyay W.P.A. 8648 of 2019 Mangal Banerjee @ Dr. Mangal Banerjee -Vs-

The Appellate Authority under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 & Ors.

For the Petitioner : Ms. Chandreyi Alam Ms. Runu Mukherjee For the State : Mr. Supriyo Chattopadhyay Mr. Sabyasachi Mondal Heard on : 07.03.2025, 26.06.2025, 14.08.2025 Judgment on : 02.12.2025 Uploaded on : 05.12.2025 Ananya Bandyopadhyay, J.:-

1. The petitioner chronicled continuous and dedicated service of ten years rendered at the educational establishment borne out of the welfare obligations of the Coal Mining Industry. His journey commenced when he was appointed as a clerk in the Santaldih Coal Washery Junior High School on 2nd August 1971. With the school being upgraded in 1978 to a High School upon recognition by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, the petitioner, upon acquiring requisite qualifications for teaching, sought the recognized post of Assistant Teacher. His claim crystallized pursuant to an order dated 26th November 1997 passed by this Court in CO No.1404 (W)

of 1992, whereafter the Project Officer,