INDIRA BANERJEE,J. - (1.) In this writ petition, the petitioner has sought orders on the respondents to pay interest to the petitioner at 18% per annum on gratuity due and payable to the petitioner which has been released belatedly.
(2.) The petitioner apparently retired from service on 31st October, 2000. A Pension Payment Order being Memo No. 6759/P dated 11th March, 2002, was issued computing the amount of pension, gratuity etc. consequential to the revision of pay and allowances. According to the petitioner, the gratuity amount was disbursed to the petitioner on 11th December,2003.
(3.) The issue in this writ petition is whether the delay in release of gratuity to retired primary school teachers attracts interest and, if so, at what rate.;