JUDGMENT

These two writ petitions are connected and therefore, I am disposing of these two writ petitions by a common judgment. The prayers in these writ petitions are as follows:

W.P.(C) No. 18402 of 2021

“i. orders to set aside Ext.P4 circular to the extent to which it stands against disbursing arrear salary to the petitioner in cash.

ii. Orders declaring that the petitioner is entitled for arrear salary for the period from 01.06.2018 to 31.05.2021 to be paid in cash except the statutory deductions.

iii. issue a writ of mandamus commanding the 5th respondent to sanction the bill claiming arrear salary in respect of the petitioner without insisting for merging the entire salary and allowances into KASEPF account.

iv. Orders commanding the respondents No.1 to 5 to pay the interest @ 9% to the petitioner for delayed payment of Rs.1144980/-(Rupees eleven lakh forty four thousand nine hundred and eighty only) from 10.08.2021 (date of return of the bill by the 5th respondent) to the actual date of payment.

v. any other writ or order that this Hon'ble court may deem fit in this case.”(sic)

2. When these writ petitions came up for consideration, the counsel for the petitioners submitted that the