IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. C.W.P. No. 15047 of 2008 DATE OF DECISION : 14.10.2009 Chander Pal Singh .... PETITIONER Versus Haryana State Electricity Board and another ..... RESPONDENTS CORAM :- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SATISH KUMAR MITTAL Present: Mr. Ashok Sharma Nabhewala, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr. Mohnish Sharma, Advocate, for the respondents. * * * SATISH KUMAR MITTAL , J. ( Oral ) The petitioner was working as Loco Foreman in the Panipat Thermal Plant. On 31.1.1997, he retired from service, on attaining the age of superannuation. After his retirement, some of the retiral benefits were not paid to him. An amount of Rs. 46,221/- was deducted from the gratuity of the petitioner. He challenged the said deduction from his gratuity by filing CWP No. 11635 of 1999, which was allowed with costs of Rs.25,000/- vide judgment dated 30.5.2005, passed by this Court, while coming to the conclusion that the aforesaid deduction was wrongly made, and the respondents were directed to refund the said amount to the petitioner. The said judgment was challenged by the respondents by filing SLP. The CWP No. 15047 of 2008 -2- judgment dated 30.5.2005 with regard to the refund of the aforesaid amount to the petitioner was upheld by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. However, the order imposing costs was set aside. It is admitted position that the aforesaid amount of Rs. 46,221/- has been refunded to the petitioner. In the instant petition, the petitioner is claiming interest on three amounts i.e. arrears of leave to the tune of Rs. 11,536/-, balance of gratuity of Rs. 4,536/- and balance of arrears of pension of Rs. 26,833/-. All these three payments were made to him in March, 2008, i.e. after a delay of 11 years. The respondents in their written statement as well as the Chief Engineer, who is present in Court, could not give any justification for making the aforesaid payment after a long delay. Keeping in view the fact that in the instant case, the delay is more than 11 years and no justification has been given, I deem it appropriate to allow this writ petition and direct the respondents to pay interest at the rate of 8% per annum on the aforesaid delayed payments. Ordered accordingly. October 14, 2009 ( SATISH KUMAR MITTAL ) ndj JUDGE