Rupali Marit Granted 8% Interest on Pension

Authority: High Court of West Bengal (Bench: Suvra Ghosh, J.)

Order Date: 15 July 2026

Parties: Rupali Marit (petitioner) vs. The State of West Bengal & Ors.
Background: The petitioner’s husband, serving as Secretary of Indrani Gram Panchayat, died on 4 December 2021.
Pension Process: All pension formalities were completed timely; the pension payment order was issued on 17 May 2022, and the gratuity amount along with arrear pension was disbursed to the petitioner on 24 May 2022.
Petitioner’s Claim: The petitioner sought interest on the gratuity and arrear pension amounts due to the delay in disbursal.
Counsel Representation: Ms. Debjani Sahu appeared for the petitioner; Mr. Madhu Jana and Mr. Vinayak Choubey appeared for the State.
Court Consideration: After hearing learned counsels and reviewing material on record, the Court examined the delay and the petitioner’s entitlement to interest.

The Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance, Government of West Bengal, and the Treasury Officer, Lalbagh (2nd and 4th respondents) are directed to pay interest to the petitioner at 8% per annum on the gratuity and arrear pension amount, calculated from 5 December 2021 until the date of actual payment.
The interest payment must be made within one month from the date of communication of this order.
No order as to costs was made.
Since no affidavit is invited, the allegations contained in the writ petition are deemed not to have been admitted.
An urgent certified website copy of this order can be supplied to the parties upon compliance with requisite formalities.

Topics: Pension Interest, Judicial Order, West Bengal Government