IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Civil Writ Petition No.13580 of 2009 Date of Decision : March 10, 2010. Rajinder Kumar Gautam .....Petitioner versus State of Punjab and another .....Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SURYA KANT. Present : Mr.Raj Kaushik, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr.B.S.Chahal, DAG, Punjab. -.- 1. Whether Reporters of Local papers 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? --- Surya Kant, J. (Oral) The petitioner retired as a Head Analyst from the respondent- department on 31.3.2009. He seeks a mandamus to direct the respondents to grant him interest on the delayed payment of retiral benefits. Upon notice of motion, the respondents have filed their reply- affidavit, the preliminary submission of which reads as under:- “That the writ petition has become infructuous to the following facts. That the petitioner already received full payment of his GPF alongwith the interest on it amounting to Rs.5,63,952.00 vide cheque No.426076 dated 1.9.2009. That the petitioner's leave encashment has been deposited in his account vide cheque No.435931 dated 9.12.2009 amounting to Rs.2,83,620/-. Petitoners C.W.P.No .13580 of 2009 2 final pension is sanctioned with the order No.Pen 2/R- 53/2009-10/9755-58 dated 24.12.2009 with the PPO No.232458/PB Rs.12350/- per month w.e.f. 1.4.2009. Petitioners commutation amounting to Rs.4,96,233/- is also sanctioned to the petitioner and has already received the payment. Petitioners gratuity amounting to Rs.4,97,211/- is also sanctioned and paid vide letter No.Pen-2/R-53/2009-10/9753-54 dated 24.12.2009. That the delay in payment is due to process and is not will full or intentional.” It is apparent that while some of the benefits have been released to the petitioner within a reasonable period, most of the payments have been made after a delay of 6 months or more. The writ petition is accordingly allowed in part and it is directed that whatever retiral benefits have been paid to the petitioner after 30.6.2009, shall carry interest @ 7% per annum to be paid from 1.6.2009 till the actual date of payment to the petitioner. The arrears of interest shall be paid within a period of three months from the date of receiving a certified copy of this order. Dasti. March 10, 2010 (SURYA KANT) Mohinder JUDGE