IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.291 of 2009 Ram Kishore Prasad, Son of Late Jag Mohan Lal, resident of Banker’s Colony, Mithanpura, P.O. R.K.Ashram Bela, P.S. Bela, Town and District-Muzaffarpur --------------Petitioner Versus 1. The Chairman, Bihar State Electricity Board, Bailey Road,Patna 2. The Secretary, Bihar State Electricity Board, Bailey Road,Patna 3. General Manager-cum- Chief Engineer, Tirhut Area Vidhut Board, Muzaffarpur 4. Superintending Engineer, Electric Supply Circle, Motihari 5. Executive Engineer, Electric Supply Division, Motihari ------------------------- Respondents. ---------------------------------- 02 16-12-2011 Heard Sri Pankaj Maijorwar, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Binod Kumar, learned counsel appearing on behalf of Respondent/Bihar State Electricity Board. The petitioner, who retired on 31.08.2006 as Meter Reader from Electric Supply Division, Motihari, after not getting his retiral dues even after sanction order issued by the competent authority had approached this Court by filing the present writ petition in the year 2009 for directing the Respondents to pay the same. Learned counsel for the petitioner has drawn my attention to Annexures 1 and 2 to the writ petition, which are sanction orders in respect of gratuity. It was submitted by learned counsel for the petitioner that on 16.10.2006, the gratuity amount of Rs.2,77,431/- was sanctioned by the competent authority and further Rs.11,187/- as gratuity was sanctioned on 31.07.2007. However, it was not paid earlier. The petitioner has also claimed in the writ petition for other retiral dues; such as leave 2 encashment and arrear of D.A. along with interest. In this case , a counter affidavit has been filed on behalf of the Respondent Board and in paragraph-4 of the counter affidavit the sanctioned amount of gratuity i.e. Rs.2,77,431/- was paid to the petitioner vide cheque dated 9.4.2010. Similarly, for remaining amount of gratuity i.e. Rs.11, 187/- , it was paid through cheque dated 9.4.2010. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the cheque amount as well as sanctioned amount is similar and, accordingly, it is indicative of the fact that though the gratuity amount was sanctioned in the year 2006 and 2007 , no interest was paid to the petitioner, whereas payment was made in the year 2010. Other grievances of the petitioner have already been redressed, which is evident from the counter affidavit and learned counsel for the petitioner has not disputed the same. In view of the facts and circumstances, particularly, the fact that the grievances of the petitioner have already been redressed, there is no reason to keep the matter further pending and, as such, writ petition stands disposed of. However, before parting this order, it is necessary to direct the Respondents, particularly Respondent nos. 2 and 3 i.e. the Secretary, Bihar State Electricity Board, Patna and the General Manager-cum- Chief Engineer, Tirhut Area Vidhut Board, Muzaffarpur respectively to pay interest @ 5 % per annum on the amount of gratuity , which is to be calculated from the date of sanction till the date of issuance of cheque . The amount of interest must be paid to the petitioner within a period of eight weeks from the date 3 of receipt/production of a copy of this order. With above observation and direction, the writ petition stands disposed of. NKS/- ( Rakesh Kumar, J.)