IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Civil Writ Petition No.18304 of 2009 Date of Decision : 19.1.2010. Dr.Surinder Singh Bedi .....Petitioner versus State of Punjab and others .....Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SURYA KANT. Present : Mr.Sachin Sharma, Advocate, for the petitioner. Ms.Charu Tuli, Sr.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) Notice of motion. Ms.Charu Tuli, Senior Deputy Advocate General, Punjab, accepts notice on behalf of the respondents. In view of the nature of the order which I propose to pass, there is no necessity to seek any counter-reply from the respondents at this stage. The petitioner, while serving as Senior Medical Officer in the Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Punjab, retired on attaining the age of superannuation on 31.1.2008. At that time, he was posted at Primary Health Centre, Mamdot, District Ferozepur. His grievance is that though all the pension papers were completed by him within time yet the pension has been paid to him only on 18.12.2008 and gratuity on 18.2.2009. His further grievance is that a part of the leave C.W.P.No .18304 of 2009 (O&M) 2 encashment amounting to Rs.27,050/- as well as salary for two months and 16 days also has not been released so far. The petitioner, therefore, seeks a mandamus to direct the respondents to pay interest on the delayed payments as well as release the with-held dues alongwith interest. Having heard learned counsel for the parties at some length and on perusal of the documents on record, it appears that there was no deficiency on the part of the petitioner in completion of the pension papers etc. nor there was any other hurdle to deprive him of the retirement benefits on time. Ordinarily, the authorities are expected to release the retiral benefits within three months of retirement. There is, however, apparently unexplained delay in this case. For the reasons afore-stated, this writ petition is allowed to the extent that the petitioner shall be paid the interest @ 9% p.a. w.e.f. 1.5.2008 till the actual payment of arrears of pension/commuted pension as well as the gratuity. Similarly, the with-held retiral benefits as well as the salary for the above-mentioned period, if already not paid, shall also be released to the petitioner within a period of three months alongwith interest @ 9% per annum. The State Government shall be at liberty to recover the amount of interest (paid to the petitioner) from the salary of the defaulting officer. Ordered accordingly. Dasti. 19-01-2010 (SURYA KANT) Mohinder JUDGE