****

JASGURPREET SINGH PURI, J. (Oral)

1. The present Letters Patent Appeal has been filed under Clause X of the Letters Patent Act for setting aside the judgment dated 12.03.2018 passed by the learned Single Judge in Civil Writ Petition No.1521 of 2014.

2. Respondent No.1-Mohinder Kumar Sharma, who was working as a Process Server, filed a writ petition seeking issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the appellant to pay interest @ 18% per annum on the delayed payment of Gratuity with effect from 31.05.2007 i.e. the date of his retirement, till 29.10.2013, when the aforesaid benefit was paid to him.

3. The learned Single Judge allowed the said writ petition vide judgment dated 12.03.2018 and directed the appellant to pay interest @ 9% per annum to respondent No.1 for the period from 01.09.2007 to 09.02.2012 on account of belated settlement of retiral benefits.

4. Learned counsel for the appellant submitted that respondent No.1, who was working as a Process Server, was facing disciplinary proceedings prior to his retirement and therefore, at the time of his retirement on 31.05.2007, his Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity (DCRG) was withheld in terms of Rule 9.14(c) of the