In the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh CWP No. 16503 of 2011 Date of Decision: September 27, 2011 Raghbir Singh and others ---Petitioners versus State of Haryana and others ---Respondents Coram: HON'BLE THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE GURDEV SINGH *** Present: Mr.S.S.Kharb, Advocate, for the petitioners Mr. Ashish Kapoor, Addl. Advocate General, Haryana for respondent Nos. 1 and 2 Mr. Anand Chhibbar, Advocate for respondent No. 3 *** 1. To be referred to the Reporter or not? 2. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? M.M.Kumar, ACJ. 1. The instant petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution has prayed that the amount of annuity has not been paid to the petitioners with effect from 31.10.2006. A further prayer has also been made for quashing letter dated 8.7.2011( P-4), which is a reply to the legal notice sent by the petitioner. It has been pointed out that the respondents were under obligation to pay annuity amount of ` 15,000/- per acre per annum together with interest at the rate of 18% per annum with an increase by a CWP No. 16503 of 2011 -2- fixed sum of ` 500/- with effect from 31.10.2006, however, the same has not been paid. The aforesaid annuity was payable in pursuance of Policy dated 7.12.2007 (P-1) and further order passed by the respondent-State on 22.7.2009(P-2). 2. Mr. Ashish Kapoor, learned Additional Advocate General, Haryana and Mr. Anand Chhibbar, learned counsel for respondent No. 3, have stated that the amount of annuity has been paid to the petitioners but no interest has been paid for the delayed payment. 3. Having heard learned counsel for the parties, we are of the considered view that the amount of annuity has been paid after long delay without any justification. Therefore, the petitioners are entitled to simple interest at the rate of 9% per annum from the date the amount was payable till the date it is paid. The interest shall be calculated by the respondent- State and shall be paid to the petitioners expeditiously preferably within a period of two months from the date of receipt of copy of this order. 4. Writ petition stands disposed of. (M.M.KUMAR) ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE (GURDEV SINGH) JUDGE September 27, 2011 PARAMJIT