IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.8691 of 2011 Puja Priyanka, w/o- Late Rajesh Kumar, d/o- Sri Suresh Prasad Srivastava, r/o- village- Rama Nand Path, New Balbhadrapur, P.S.- Laheria Sarai, District- Darbhanga. ….. Petitioner Versus 1. The State Bank Of India through its Chairman 202, Maker Tower, “F” Cuffe Parade, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Pin-400005. 2. The Managing Director (E.D.), State Bank of India, Corporate Office at 18th Floor, Cama Road, Mumbai-400021. 3. The Chief General Manager, State Bank of India, Local Head Office, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400051. 4. The Deputy General Manager, State Bank of India, H.R. Divisional Office, Pune. 5. Assistant General manager, (RegionV), State Bank of India, Regional business Office, P.-24, Satpur, Industrial Area, Opposite Shakal Press, M.I.D.C., Satpur, District- Nasik. 6. The Branch Manager, State Bank of India, Deola Branch, District- Nasik. 7. Assistant General Manager, State Bank of India, P.P.G. Department, Local Head Office, Patna. 8. The Chief Branch Manager, State Bank of India, City Branch, Darbhanga. ………….. Respondents For the petitioner : Mr. Dharmesh Kumar Srivastava, Advocate. For the Bank : Mr. Kaushlendra Kumar Sinha, Advocate. ---------------------------------- 4 12.08.2011 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. Kaushlendra Kumar Sinha for the respondent State Bank of India (for short “ the Bank”). After hearing the parties at length, it transpires that the claim of the petitioner for grant of ex-gratia payment on account of death of her husband in a road accident while he was in service, was initially rejected by the respondent Bank on the ground that the same was not lodged/filed within the stipulated period of time. Mr. Sinha, learned counsel for the Bank relying on the averments made in the counter affidavit states that now the said period has been extended up to December, 2011 by another 2 circular of the respondent Bank. Mr. Sinha, therefore, states that petitioner may utilize the aforesaid extension of time and file appropriate application which shall be considered by the respondent Bank in accordance with the Rule/Guidelines/Scheme/Circular. Learned counsel for the petitioner, in the light of said stand taken by learned counsel for the respondent Bank, states that petitioner will now file fresh application in the prescribed format for ex-gratia payment to which she is entitled as per law. Having heard the parties, this application is disposed of by the following order: Let the petitioner file a fresh application within one month from today along with a copy of the present order whereafter the respondent shall consider and dispose of her application in accordance with the circular/scheme of the Bank within four weeks of its filing. It is made clear that previous rejection of the claim of the petitioner on the ground of delay in filing the application shall not come in the way of the respondent Bank in granting relief to the petitioner in accordance with law. pkj ( Kishore K. Mandal, J.)