IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No 16979 of 2008 Raman Kumar Singh son of Sri Sadanand Singh, resident of village - Sandiha, P S : Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Dist : Saharsa - Petitioner Versus 1 The State of Bihar 2 The Chief Engineer-2, Rural Work Department, Bihar, Patna 3 The Superintending Engineer, R E O Work Division, Supaul, Dist : Supaul 4 The Executive Engineer, R E O Work Division, Supaul, Dist : Supaul 5 The Division Account Officer, R E O Work Division, Supaul, Dist : Supaul - Respondents ----------- 5 27.02.2009 For certain works done, petitioner was issued a cheque for Rs 1,09,238/- by the Executive Engineer, Rural Engineering Organization, Works Diision, Supaul dated 31.03.2007. On presentation for payment through Treasury, petitioner was informed that as per verbal orders of the District Magistrate after 6 pm, the cheque could not encashed. That was in 2007. Thereafter, neither the cheque could be encashed nor a fresh cheque issued as State failed to make allotment of necessary funds. It is only after this writ petition was filed that State realized its responsibility and liability and today a counter affidavit has been filed admitting the liability and annexing therewith a copy of fresh cheque issued on 26.02.2009 for the said amount in favour of the petitioner in lieu of the cheque earlier issued which has become stale and outdated. The cheque is being handed over to the learned counsel for the petitioner in Court who is granting a receipt thereof. In the circumstances, stated above, there being no reasonable cause for delay in payment except lack of will power to pursue the matter of allotment by the State, I direct that in addition to the said amount, the petitioner would be liable to be compensated with interest 2 at the rate of 8% from the date of earlier cheque to the date of this cheque. The respondent-Executive Engineer, Rural Engineering Organization, Works Division, Supaul would ensure payment of the said compensation within a period of one month from the date of production of a copy of this order before him. With these observations and directions, this writ petition stands disposed of. M.E.H./ (Navaniti Prasad Singh)