IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH C.O.C.P. No.739 of 2005 Date of Decision:- 07.02.2008 Jagdish Lal ....Petitioner(s) through Mrs.Abha Rathore, Advocate vs. Mr.Vats,Executive Officer Municipal Council, Panipat. ....Respondent(s) through Mr.Sanjay Chauhan, Advocate. *** CORAM:-HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SURYA KANT. *** 1) Whether Reporters of the 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 who was working as a Safai Karamchari with the Municipal Council, Panipat, retired from service on 31.7.2004. He was entitled to certain retiral benefits, however, there being delay in release thereof, he approached this Court by way of C.W.P.No.1994 of 2005. The said writ petition was disposed of on 7.2.2005 with a direction to the Executive Officer, Municipal Council, Panipat to take note of the grievances of the petitioner and redress the same by passing a reasoned order. Alleging non-compliance thereof, this contempt petition has been filed. In response to the show cause notice, Malkiat Singh Bajigar, Executive Officer, Municipal Council, Panipat has filed his reply/affidavit C.O.C.P. No.739 of 2005 -2- and as per the averments made therein, the gratuity amounting to Rs.1,00533/- has been paid to the petitioner in two instalments i.e. Rs.25,533 on 17.12.2004 and Rs.75,000/- on 18.3.2005. Leave Encashment i.e.Rs.22146/- was paid to the petitioner on 16.9.2004. The G.P.F. Amount of Rs.52568/- was paid to him on 29.4.2005 whereas the arrears of revised pay scale amounting to Rs.18201/- have been paid to him on 25.8.2005. It is further averred in para 7 of the affidavit that the Director, Urban Development, Haryana, has already sanctioned the petitioner's pension vide P.P.O.No.3932 dated 11.3.2005, a photostat copy of which has been handed over to learned counsel for the petitioner. While a part of the gratuity (Rs.25533/- only) as well as arrears of leave encashment were paid to the petitioner within a reasonable period after he retired on 31.7.2004; however, there appears to be no explanation for the delay in releasing (i) gratuity amount of Rs.75,000/-, (ii) G.P.F., (iii) arrears of revised pay-scale as well as the (iv) pension. Consequently, these contempt proceedings are disposed of with a clarificatory direction to the respondent that the petitioner be paid interest at the rate of 7% per annum with effect from 1.11.2004 till the actual date(s) of payment of the aforementioned four retiral benefits. The arrears of interest shall be paid to the petitioner within a period of three months from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. However, if the petitioner is of the view that he is entitled to some other benefits also, he may represent to the Executive Officer, who shall consider the same sympathetically and in accordance with law. Rule discharged. February 07, 2008 ( SURYA KANT ) poonam JUDGE