C.W.P. No.18583 of 2011 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. C.W.P. No.18583 of 2011 Date of Decision: 30.09.2011 Sukhwinder Kaur ....Petitioner Versus Punjab & Sind Bank and others ...Respondents CORAM : Hon'ble Ms. Justice Nirmaljit Kaur Present:- Mr. Sandeep Wadhawan, Advocate for the petitioner. ***** 1. Whether Reporters of Local Newspapers may be allowed to see the judgment ? 2. To be referred to the Reporters or not ? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest ? ** NIRMALJIT KAUR, J. (ORAL) This is a petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to release all death benefits of late husband of the petitioner including CPF, GPF, leave encashment, ex-gratia pension, Gratuity, Family pension, credit balance, compensation along with interest from the date of death and any other dues/payments to which the petitioner, as well as, her children are entitled to. Contends that the petitioner is a widow lady, having two minor children. The husband of the petitioner died on 26.08.2006. The petitioner moved an application dated 09.09.2006 (Annexure P-2) for seeking ex-gratia grant, as well as, other service benefits. However, nothing has been paid to her till date. Accordingly, she sent a legal notice dated 18.09.2006 (Annexure P-3). Thereafter, the petitioner completed various C.W.P. No.18583 of 2011 2 formalities as asked by respondent authorities from time to time. Finally, on 17.02.2010, after a correspondence between the petitioner and the respondent authorities, the Head Office of the respondent Bank holding the petitioner to be the nominee of deceased husband had ordered respondent No.3 i.e Zonal Office, Bathinda to release an amount of ` 10,72,333/- in favour of the petitioner and thereafter, inform the Head Office. However, not a single penny has been paid by the respondents till date. In view of the above, the present petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to consider the present petition as a comprehensive representation and decide the same as expeditiously as possible preferably within one month from the receipt of a copy of this order. However, in case, the petitioner is entitled for the said relief, the same shall be released forthwith. In case, the claim of the petitioner is to be rejected, the same shall be by passing a speaking order. (NIRMALJIT KAUR) 30.09.2011 JUDGE gurpreet