Authority: High Court at Calcutta, Circuit Bench at Jalpaiguri
Order Date: 29 September 2026
Case Overview
- Petitioners: Jitendra Nath Barman and others, Group‑D employees of Cooch Behar Zilla Regulated Market Committee, filed WPA No. 532 of 2025 against West Bengal State Agricultural Marketing Board and others, seeking enhancement of gratuity as per notification dated 28 January 2021 issued by the CEO.
- The petitioners had submitted representations to the concerned authority, which remained pending since 2024.
- The respondents include the State, represented by the Attorney General for the State, and the Chairman of the Cooch Behar Zilla Regulated Committee (5th respondent).
Final Outcome
- The Court directs the Chairman of the Cooch Behar Zilla Regulated Committee to consider the pending representations and dispose of the gratuity enhancement request within four weeks from the date of communication of this order, after granting a reasonable hearing to all concerned, including the petitioners.
- The Committee must communicate its decision to the petitioners within one week of its disposal, and if the decision favours the petitioners, take the necessary consequential steps at the earliest.
- No order as to costs is made; the allegations in the petition are not deemed admitted as no affidavit was invited.
- Parties are to act on the server copy of the order downloaded from the official Court website; an urgent certified copy may be supplied upon compliance with formalities.
Topics: Gratuity Enhancement, Judicial Direction