IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision : March 03, 2025 Sukhjinder Singh .. Petitioner Versus State of Punjab and others .. Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI Present: Mr. Amarjit Singh Bedi, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Mr. Malkiat Singh, DAG, Punjab.

HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI J. (ORAL)

1. In the present writ petition, the grievance being raised by the petitioner is that though the petitioner retired from service on 28.02.2018 but his pensionary benefits were not released till January/April, 2021 hence, the respondents are liable to grant the interest to the petitioner for the delayed payment of the gratuity and leave encashment.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the aforementioned claim regarding the interest has wrongly been rejected by the respondents while passing the order dated 09.08.2022, copy of which has been appended as Annexure P-14.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that though at the time when the petitioner retired from service i.e. on 28.02.2018, there was an FIR No.126 of 2003 was pending against the petitioner but he was acquitted on 14.03.2018 hence, there was no valid justific