115 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision: 17.09.2025 Hakam Singh ....Petitioner Versus The Punjab State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd ...Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARPREET SINGH BRAR Present: Mr. Shiv Kumar, Advocate and Mr. Lovedev Singh, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Vikas Arora, DAG, Punjab.

HARPREET SINGH BRAR, J. (ORAL)

1. The present civil writ petition has been filed under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondent to release interest @ 18% per annum on the delayed payment of leave encashment.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner inter alia contends that the petitioner retired as a Field Officer on 30.04.2011 (Annexure P-2) after serving the respondent-Federation. His gratuity was withheld due to pending departmental proceedings which was eventually released on 15.09.2017 (Annexure P-3) along with interest @ 9% per annum. However, other retiral benefits including leave encashment and security were not released even though all departmental proceedings against the petitioner have culminated in the year 2008 and no punishment and recovery