Authority: Calcutta High Court (Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction, Appellate Side)

Order Date: 22 July 2026

Case Overview

  • Petition: Budha Deb Chatterjee (represented by Mr. Niladri Bhattacharjee) vs. State of West Bengal & Ors., with West Bengal Transport Corporation (formerly Calcutta Tramways Company (1978) Ltd) as respondent.
  • Advocates for petitioner: Mr. Srinjay Sengupta, Mr. Saurav Roy, Mr. Ankush Ghosh, Mr. Prasenjit Jana; for respondent: Ms. Poulami Chattopadhyay; for the State: Mr. Mahadeb Khan.
  • The petitioner retired on superannuation from Calcutta Tramways Company (1978) Limited (now West Bengal Transport Corporation Ltd) on 31‑12‑2024.
  • All other retiral dues were paid on time, but the provident fund (PF) dues were released only on 10‑02‑2026, creating a delay of over one year.
  • The petitioner seeks interest on the delayed PF amount, invoking settled law that a retired employee’s right to dues accrues on the date of superannuation and any delay warrants interest.

Final Outcome

  • The Court directs the concerned authority of West Bengal Transport Corporation to pay simple interest at 6% per annum on the PF dues, calculated from the next date of retirement (31‑12‑2024) up to the actual date of 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 shall be liable to pay an additional 2% simple interest (total 8% per annum) on the PF dues.
  • The writ‑petition is disposed of.
  • An urgent photostat certified copy of the order may be supplied to the parties upon compliance with requisite formalities.

Topics: Provident Fund, Employee Retirement Benefits, Court Order