217 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision : 11.02.2026 Nirmal Singh ….Petitioner Versus State of Punjab and others ...Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DEEPINDER SINGH NALWA Present: Mr. S.K. Rattan, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Amarpreet Singh Bains, AAG, Punjab.

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DEEPINDER SINGH NALWA, J. (Oral)

In the present writ petition, the petitioner is praying for issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to grant interest @ 12% per annum on delayed payments of pension and other pensionary benefits.

2. The brief facts of the case are that the petitioner retired on 30.11.2020 after attaining the age of superannuation. The details of retiral benefits released to the petitioner are mentioned in para 13 of the writ petition. The relevant chart containing details of retiral benefits is reproduced hereinbelow:-

Nomenclature Amount Date Delay

3. A perusal of the chart reproduced above would show that all the retiral benefits were released to the petitioner within a period of

08 months from the date of retirement.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that as there was an inordinate delay in release of the retiral benefits to the petitioner, as such, the petitioner is entitled for grant of interest on delayed payment. Reliance is made to the judgment passed by the Bench Bench of this Court in the case titled as A.S. Randhawa Vs.

State of Punjab and others, 1997(3) SCT 468

5. On the other hand, learned State counsel submits that there is no dispute in regard to the date of retirement of the petitioner. It is the case of respondents-State that that at the time when the petitioner retired, Covid-19 restrictions were being followed by all the offices of the State/Country. In spite of the abovesaid fact, all the documents for pension case of the petitioner were prepared by the Department and the same were forwarded to the office of Accountant General (A&E), Punjab, Sector- 17, Chandigarh, on 06.01.2021 i.e. within 36 days. The office of Accountant General (A&E), Punjab, approved the pension case of the petitioner on 01.04.2021 and thereafter, all the retiral benefits were released to the petitioner.

6. I have heard learned counsel for the parties at length and perused the paper-book along with records.

7. The only issue involved in the present case is in regard to grant of interest on the delayed payment of retiral benefits. A perusal of the facts of the present case would show that the petitioner retired on 30.11.2020. It is not in dispute that at that time, Covid-19 restrictions were being followed by all the offices of the State/Country. It is also an admitted fact that the case of the petitioner was sent to the concerned Department for the purpose of grant of pension on 06.01.2021 i.e. within a period of 36 days and the pension case was approved by the concerned Department on 01.04.2021. A perusal of the facts would show that there is a valid reason for some delay in release of the retiral benefits to the petitioner. The delay in the case of the petitioner in regard to release of his retiral benefits cannot be considered to be an inordinate delay. Accordingly, the petitioner is not entitled to payment of interest.

8. Taking into consideration the facts of the present case, this Court does not find any merit in the present writ petition.

9. Accordingly, the present writ petition is dismissed.

10. Pending application(s), if any, shall also stand(s) disposed of.

11.02.2026 (DEEPINDER SINGH NALWA)

JUDGE d.gulati Whether speaking / reasoned : Yes No Whether Reportable : Yes No