IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision: 14.05.2026 Avtar Singh Kahlon ….Petitioner Versus State of Punjab and others ….Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KULDEEP TIWARI Present: Mr. Amrik Singh, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Mr. Tejinder Pal Singh Walia, AAG, Punjab.

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KULDEEP TIWARI, J. (Oral)

1. Through the instant writ petition, filed under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner prays for issuance of a Mandamus upon the respondents to pay interest on the delayed payment of retiral benefits.

2. At the outset, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner, at this stage, confines his claim of interest only qua the delayed payment of gratuity. He submits that the petitioner retired on 30.09.2020, and the amount of gratuity was paid on 01.06.2022, i.e. after about the delay of one year and nine months. Therefore, the petitioner is entitled to interest @ 6% per annum on the delayed payment of gratuity.

3. Per contra, learned State counsel, while vehemently opposing the claim of the petitioner, submits that, in fact, the petitioner submitted his pension papers only a month before the date of his superannuation, wh