Authority: Calcutta High Court (High Court at Calcutta)
Order Date: 22 July 2026
Case Overview
- Parties: Petitioner Niladri Bhattacharjee (retired employee) vs State of West Bengal & others, including West Bengal Transport Corporation Ltd.
- Background: Petitioner retired on 31 Dec 2024 from Calcutta Tramways Company (1978) Ltd (now WBTC). Provident fund dues were released on 13 Mar 2026, creating a delay of over a year. Petitioner sought interest on the delayed payment.
- Legal Reasoning: The Court affirmed that a retired employee has a statutory right to receive retiral dues on the date of superannuation. Delay in payment entitles the employee to interest. The employer (WBTC) is bound to pay interest for the period of delay.
Final Outcome
- The Court directs West Bengal Transport Corporation Ltd to pay simple interest at the rate of 6% per annum on the provident fund dues, calculated from 31 Dec 2024 (date of retirement) up to the date of actual payment.
- The interest must be paid within four months from the date of communication of this order.
- In case of default in paying the stipulated interest, the respondent authority shall be liable to pay an additional simple interest of 2% (making the total 8% per annum) on the provident fund dues.
- The writ petition is disposed of.
Topics: Provident Fund, Interest on Delayed Payments, Labor Law